Number: 1979-14
WHEREAS, there are a number of critical worldwide energy problems which affect our national security as well as the health and well-being of all Americans; and
WHEREAS, energy conservation by all citizens is absolutely essential to solving these problems; and
WHEREAS, educational programs, including formal programs for school students, training programs for operating personnel, and informal public educational activities reduce waste and therefore represent the cheapest form of new energy readily available to us; and
WHEREAS, a number of agencies, including U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Teachers Association, State Departments of Education, State Energy Offices, NWF, and a number of public and private utilities offer materials and expertise in this area at little or no cost; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to encourage schools and other agencies to make use of these resources in developing and conducting appropriate programs; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, in cooperation with State Energy Offices, will be conducting a $900 million grant program for schools and hospitals through which buildings will be retrofitted to improve their energy efficiency; and
WHEREAS, such improvements can be of maximum value only if agencies benefiting from them follow good energy conservation practices;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled, March 22-25, 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, hereby urges that the U.S. Department of Energy and State Energy Offices use the $900 million school-hospital grant program as a means of encouraging these institutions to develop and conduct energy-saving training programs for all appropriate personnel, and in the case of schools, energy education programs for students. Specific ways in which this might be accomplished include:
- Requiring all grantees to conduct appropriate personnel training or student educational programs, or giving preference to applicants include such activities in their plans.
- Allowing applicants to include the cost or value of energy education and/or training programs as part of their locally required match.
- Making grantees aware of the energy education materials and services available to them at little or no cost from a variety of public and private agencies.