Source: 

(Hawaii) In some states the argument continues over the Next Generation Science Standards and the  human contribution to climate change.

But in Hawaii – the nation’s least energy independent state – schools not only embraced the new science standards and that interpretation of climate change but are also using the move to cleaner energy as a teachable moment for students.

As part of a statewide initiative to use 100 percent clean energy by 2045, schools across all eight islands will be outfitted with more energy efficient resources such as solar panels, LED lighting and low-flow toilets. The students, officials say, will have a front row seat and opportunities for hands-on experience.

“When we began the initiative to look at energy consumption and energy efficiency at our schools, one of the things we really wanted to do was make sure there was an educational component.” Gilbert Chun, spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Education, said in an interview. “So much construction work will need to be done in the schools, making it the perfect opportunity to learn and see things like how solar panels are installed, how they work and what exactly is involved with energy efficiency.”

Since their release in 2013, the NGSS has been adopted in more than 15 states but remains an issue for some due to its inclusion of controversial topics, such as evolutionary theories and global climate change.

West Virginia’s Board of Education had considered adopting the standards while removing teachings of human contributions to climate change. In Wyoming, the standards were temporarily banned with opponents arguing the potential impact the curriculum could have on the state's fossil fuels industry.

Hawaii is the most fossil-fuel-dependent state in the nation, the state reports, largely due to its economic reliance on tourism and the military. Such dependency on non-renewable energy, however, has shown to increase costs elsewhere, Chun said. The state’s schools spend $48 million a year on electricity alone.

The Education Department’s five-year Ka Hei program — launched in 2014 — seeks to educate students about sustainable energy through hands-on projects and research tied to areas including solar energy, limiting waste, encouraging recycling and reducing water usage.

The department announced its new partnership with Defined Learning and OpTerra Energy Services, whose curriculum for the Ka Hei program is aligned to both the Common Core and NGSS.

The endeavor will also be cost-effective, according to the Education Department, and could save more than $24 million in operating expenses over five years. In addition, the plan could create student career pathways in the energy and sustainability field.

Exposing students to potential careers related to sustainable energy is one of the key long-term goals, Chun said. While the construction that goes into making the state’s 256 schools more energy efficient will last approximately five years, students will continue to analyze scalable technology such as wind turbines and solar panels after the work is complete.

“We live in one of the most isolated places in the world, and we are stewards of the land we love,” Suzanne Mulcahy, assistant superintendent of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support, said in a statement last week. “Our students are the future, and we need to educate them about how to keep our island beautiful.”