Kaua'i CC students model leadership for sustainable living

Kauaʻi Community College
Contact:
Camilla Matsumoto, (808) 245-8280
Comm Relation & Spec Projects, Chancellor's Office
Posted: Dec 6, 2013

Students and faculty celebrate the completion of the post and pier footings of the prototype house.
Students and faculty celebrate the completion of the post and pier footings of the prototype house.

Since announcing sustainable living as a major focus of teaching, learning and service to the Garden Island community in 2008, Kaua'i CC has developed courses where students have the opportunity to learn new skills that will help them to secure green professions.  Under the guidance of the college's Ho'ouluwehi:  The Sustainable Living Institute of Kaua'i, like-minded faculty have joined forces to build awareness and engage students as leading contributors of a green Kaua'i.

Kaua'i CC students in the college’s sustainable living affordable house construction classes, being taught by instructor Duke Lange, apply their skills toward completing an affordable housing prototype for Kaua'i.  A 40-foot high-top shipping container is being repurposed to become a green, affordable living home.  Completion of the project is scheduled to take place Fall 2014.

Facilities Engineering courses taught by instructor James Trujillo have been an integral part of increasing recycling initiatives.  The best place to begin is at the Kaua'i CC home, where students recently assembled and installed recycling bins around campus for paper, plastic and glass.  Already, awareness has grown and the reduction of Kaua`i CC’s carbon footprint has become a shared way of life.