Carbon Audits for Colleges in Savaii with Lanulauava
Representative of the Lanulauava Student Association (LSA) travelled to the Big Island of Savaii yesterday morning to visit five of the six Colleges that were invited to the environmental awareness workshop held at the Tanoa Hotel last month.
The group of environmentalists from the National University of Samoa first started their Carbon Audit in February this year on the university compound at Le Papaigalagala.
They visited Mataevave College, Tuasivi College, Itu o Tane College and Alofi o Taoa College – where they were able to follow up on the work being done by young environmentalists in Savaii.
Speaking to Samoa Global News, President of LSA Grace Ah Young explained how a carbon audit is done and why she and her team felt the need to take the lead in building the capacity of youth on this initiative.
“We are using an energy audit made easy for Pacific students created by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SOPAC), given to us by our main partner, Samoa Conservation Society (SCS)” said Ms Ah Young.
“We use electricity bills..we also count electrical appliances and compile results that we are then able to analyse and compare..
“It is also a self-reflecting tool that allows us to ask ourselves, is our behaviour affecting the environment?”, explains Ms Ah Young.
“For example, turning on a light or a ceiling fan can take up so much electricity and by performing a carbon audit, students and teachers are able to make good decisions as to how they can contribute to the environment,” she added.
Manino Utumapu, 16, of Itu-o-Tane College told SGN that she appreciates the follow-up from LSA after their last session at Tanoa which brought them all to Upolu as a school excursion last month.
“I am so grateful that these guys came back to check up on how we’re doing since the last time we met at the workshop,” she said.
“Carbon Audit is very important and it should be taught in all schools because things like measuring how much energy we use in a day or even a month, and also the money that goes into paying for the electricity bill makes us more aware of what we’re doing..,” said Ms Utumapu. “Learning about carbon audits helps us to think about ways to utilise renewable energy,” the Year 10 student added.
The Lanulauava Students representatives will make their last stop at the College of Savaii i Sisifo, before heading back to Upolu.
LSA is a not-for-profit group of young conservationists with a passion to do their part in raising environmental awareness. The work of Lanulauava Student Association is supported by valued partners, Samoa Conservation Society, National University of Samoa, Samoa Stationery and Books, MESC and the main development partner donor – the British High Commission in Samoa.
(0)
