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Another FaCTS Mellon Project

Conserving Global Energy Resources Through Ecocomposition

by Dr. Daniel J. Webre

The goal of this proposed work is to offer sections of ENGL 1010, Rhetoric and
Composition, that include a service learning component designed to engage first year
Xavier University students in global energy issues. Xavier students will partner with a
program of the Alliance for Affordable Energy at the New Orleans BuildSmart Learning
Center, located approximately two blocks from the Xavier campus. At this facility,
Xavier students will learn about sustainable building techniques appropriate for the
recovery efforts ongoing in New Orleans. Permanent exhibits and periodic workshops
hosted at the BuildSmart Center cover topics including the following: 1) Energy Use
(including solar energy solutions), 2) Weatherization/HVAC, 3) Sustainable Building
Materials, 4) Water Use, and 5) Non-Toxic Materials. As Xavier student involvement
with the BuildSmart Center grows, they will serve as docents and/or mentors for
members of the community (especially K-12 students) visiting the space. Other
opportunities for service learning include implementing energy-saving techniques at local
sites where rebuilding and recovery are in progress. Xavier students participating in this
class will develop critical thinking skills while examining their role in global energy
usage, by incorporating library research, writing assignments, and local community-
specific interactions.

URL: /initiatives/facts/2009/Webre.pdf

Start date: Monday, May 11, 2009
Finish date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010