Pupils Construct Micro-Structures with Emphasis on Eco-Friendly Practices
In a unique collaboration, Just Housing, a community-focused design firm in Duluth, has partnered with high school students from Cloquet and Wrenshall to provide hands-on experience in building high-performance, energy-efficient structures. This initiative, known as the Green Design Building Capstone, was launched in partnership with teachers, local carpenters, and the Northeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP).
At the helm of this project is Sarah Clauss, an AmeriCorps Climate Impact Corps member with a background in environmental science and water systems. Clauss, who earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, was excited to take on more public-facing, community-driven, impact-focused work with the Just Housing project.
The Green Design Building Capstone is more than just a learning opportunity; it's a chance for students to make a real difference. The structures built in this project include solar panels, battery-powered electrical systems, high-efficiency insulation, and ventilation systems, all aimed at reducing environmental impacts and supporting economic mobility.
The Just Housing project is deeply committed to ensuring that green building isn't just about climate-smart design but also about empowering young people and creating stronger, more connected places. Leah Karmaker, a designer with Just Housing, states that the project aims to impact local causes by donating two tiny, high-performance buildings. One of these buildings will serve as a multi-purpose space for single mothers supported by Divine Konnections Incorporated, a local nonprofit. The other will be donated to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, a school closely aligned with the green building industry.
The EmPOWERment Project, led by Rachel Wagner and Leah Karmaker, is a hands-on green building education program for Minnesota high school students. It is a partnership between Just Housing, the University of Minnesota, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), and RSDP. The goal of the project is to teach students about sustainability, reduce environmental impacts of building, and support their economic mobility.
For more information about the EmPOWERment Project, potential inquiries can be directed to Just Housing, the lead organization, or partner organizations such as the University of Minnesota, CERTs, and RSDP. Exploring these groups' websites, checking state or Minnesota-focused environmental education funding listings, and looking for related conferences, announcements, or media releases may also provide valuable insights.
- Sarah Clauss, with a background in environmental science and data-and-cloud-computing, is leading the Green Design Building Capstone, which focuses on sustainable-living and technological advancements, such as solar panels and battery-powered electrical systems.
- The EmPOWERment Project, a green building education program for Minnesota high school students, promotes learning in environmental-science, education-and-self-development, and career-development through skills-training in sustainability and reducing environmental impacts.
- As a part of this collaboration, high school students from Cloquet and Wrenshall are gaining practical experience in the field of environmental-science and technology, working to create high-performance, energy-efficient structures that support personal-growth and economic mobility.
- The Nebraska Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP) plays a crucial role in this project, partnering with teachers, local carpenters, and Just Housing to facilitate learning opportunities and promote sustainable-living.
- The home-and-garden industry is indirectly impacted by this initiative as the students learn about high-efficiency insulation and ventilation systems, which can be applied to their own homes and lifestyles.
- The Just Housing project collaborates with various partner organizations, like the University of Minnesota and Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), to extend their reach, offer more resources, and further their mission towards environmental-science education, technology advancement, and community development.
