Nov. 4 , 2005 CONTACT: Abby Palmer 734.487.4400 apalmer2@emich.edu

EMU hopes to spark interest with energy awareness week

YPSILANTI - See energy work in mysterious ways as a car runs off vegetable oil, get tested to see how many world’s of energy you use or ride around campus on a hydrogen powered bus all during EMU’s Energy Awareness Week Nov. 7-11.

            “Understanding energy usage is an important issue as it has become a leading news item,” said Chris Mayda, associate professor in the department of geology and geography and coordinator for Energy Awareness Week. “The average American needs four-and-a-half worlds to provide for their energy usage. Between the United States and Canada we are only 5% of the population. But we use more than 30% of the world’s energy. EMU’s community can come see how much energy they use at the Global Footprint activity in McKenny Union.”

            Highlights from Energy Awareness Week include:

Information Table and Global Footprint Testing

• During the week, an information table and global footprint testing will be at McKenny Union, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Our ecological footprint attempts to show how much land area our lifestyle requires now and how much land area we use in our daily lives. If everyone on our planet used as many resources and created as much waste as the average American, we would require the use of four-and-a-half Earths. Each American needs over 25.5 acres to supply all the energy, food, paper, building materials and consumer goods that we live with. The average world citizen requires about 7 acres.

Display of General Motor’s fuel-efficient cars

• Don’t miss a chance to see and learn about General Motor’s fuel-efficient cars, Monday Nov. 7, noon-2 p.m., McKenny Union parking lot.

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture

• Danielle Kahn, from the University of Michigan, presents “Dollars and Sense: Practical Energy Saving for Homeowners,” Tuesday, Nov. 8, noon-2 p.m. in Room 302, Halle Library. The lecture includes tips on insulating, heating, lighting and fueling.

Lecture: Mountaintop Removal, Devastation in Appalachia

• Larry Gibson and Dave Cooper, both coal field residents and anti-mountaintop removal activists will present a lecture on “Mountaintop Removal, Devastation in Appalachia,” Wednesday, Nov. 9, noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., Room G03, Halle Library. Learn how the practice of mountaintop removal disrupts entire ecosystems and landscapes.

Energy Film Fest

• A variety of films highlighting the use of energy will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 9, Room G03, Halle Library. Film times are as follows: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Alternate Fuel Demonstration

• See how to run a car on waste vegetable oil and learn the basics of bio-diesel at an Alternative Fuel Demonstration, Thursday, Nov. 11, noon-2 p.m., in front of Halle Library. You also can ride in style while you are shuttled around campus in a Ford E450 Hydrogen-powered bus.

            For more information about Energy Awareness Week contact Chris Mayda at 487-7856 or e-mail her at cmayda@emich.edu.

Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their careers and lives, and to be better citizens.

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Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.

Editor's Note: Looking for an expert source for a story? Check out EMU's Eastern Experts online at www.emich.edu/univcomm/easternexperts.

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