It's time to hug your mother. Mother Earth will be front and center at Western Nevada College's Earth Week activities, April 16-20, at the Carson City campus. The public is invited to the weeklong events that lead up the national observation of Earth Day on April 22.
To celebrate, WNC will dedicate its first campus solar array on Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. behind the Aspen Building. It was completed by Black Rock Solar of Reno, a non-profit corporation which works to expand the use of renewable energy. It is expected to save the college as much as $28,000 each year in electricity costs, while helping WNC meet its goal of energy sustainability.
Water, green energy, climate and waste are the featured topics for the weeks, along with practices that will help protect and improve our environment.
Events will begin with the film "The Mono Lake Story" on Monday, April 16, in Marlette Hall. The newly released film tells the story of the collapse of the Mono Lake ecosystem when the Los Angeles Department of Water began diverting water from the Sierra lake 350 miles to Los Angeles in 1941 and how the Mono Lake Committee stopped it. A discussion on the Southern Nevada Water Authority's proposal to pump water from Eastern Nevada to Las Vegas will follow the 30-minute film. Two film viewings and discussions are offered: noon to 1:15 p.m. and 4 to 5:15 p.m.
On Tuesday, April 17, at 10 a.m., WNC students and faculty members will perform a waste audit on the lawn in front of the Bristlecone Building. They will sift through one campus building's trash to reveal what should have been recycled. Visitors will learn about WNC and Nevada recycling options and receive treats made out of recycled materials. Volunteers will be needed to sort, weigh and record materials. In addition, tarps, scale, recycling and sorting bins, gloves and plastic bags are items necessary to complete the audit.
Alternative energy exhibits and demonstrations will be the focus of Green Energy Day on Wednesday, April 18.
Local car dealerships will show alternative fuel vehicles they offer and a renewable energy demonstration is planned in the parking lot around the Child Development Center and in front of the Dini Library and Student Center. Auto dealers will showcase their latest hybrid and electric vehicles, including the Chevy Volt, Ford Fusion, Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf.
NV Energy will bring its Renewable Generations trailer and present information on its renewable energy incentive programs, solar, wind and solar hot water systems.
On Thursday, April 19, a slide show and video on climate change will be presented at 6 p.m. at Marlette Hall. Produced by the Climate Reality Project, the presentation will also look at long-range forecasts and give attendees a chance to discuss what contributions they can make.
For information about the college's Earth Week activities, contact Valerie Anderson of the WNC Sustainability Committee at 445-3222 or at valeriea@wnc.edu.
Summer term registration to begin
Enrollment for summer classes at Western Nevada College begins Monday. Summer classes provide students the opportunity to fulfill course requirements on a condensed schedule. Classes begin Monday, June 11. To register or view a full list of classes, visit my.wnc.edu