Why Help Us?

Before helping a cause, everyone wants to know, “Why?” On this blog, we have had a page up for some time now extensively detailing all the reasons why - but the length of the page seems to be intimidating. Solution? Condense the material.

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So, for those who are pressed for time, I have condensed the reasons why you should help into one, short paragraph.

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The goals of the TJSPI have both an ecological and educational aspect. Although the consequences of using renewable energy are well-known, namely, independence from fossil fuels and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the educational impacts of this project are also immense. TJHSST has an Energy Systems Lab and associated classes. One of the technologies students in these classes study are forms of renewable energy, especially solar energy. Although studying about these systems is beneficial, having a working solar panel array would be phenomenal. And lastly, the solar panels would reduce the energy costs of the school, allowing funds to be redirected to desperately underfunded areas.

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Still have questions? Please do not hesitate to visit our page fully detailing the benefits here, or email us at the.tjspi@gmail.com for more information

Why the TJSPI?

So we have been blogging about the TJSPI itself for a few posts now, but I feel it is important to write about why I am so personally involved with the TJSPI? Why do I feel a connection to it? Why have I linked my well-being to the health of the TJSPI? Why am I emotionally and psychologically attached to the TJSPI, a mere organization?

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For me, my major involvement with the modern environmental movement has its roots with the TJSPI. As far back as I can remember, I have sympathized with the natural world. Not environmentalism, per se, but an early, cognizant recognition of the dangers facing the environment. In elementary school, as we learned about the destruction of rainforests, I can recall recognizing the horrors while many of my classmates glossed over the lesson as just more work.

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These embers of my current interest in the environment slowly burnt on… my sophomore year came, when I noticed that a new club had been formed, the “Environmental Impact Club.” It was at this first meeting that I was finally provided the opportunity to devote every moment of my free time to the environmental movement by coming up with the idea for the TJSPI. Thus, for me, my interest in the environment and the TJSPI have grown as one, and are inextricably linked in my mind.

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But my undying passion for the environment and for the cause that the TJSPI champions is less esoteric and emotionally-based as well. I truly believe that renewable energy is the future of our nation, and of the world. Scientifically speaking, our current lifestyle and energy habits are destructive and unsustainable: it is physically and mathematically impossible for our planet to sustain us if we continue our habits as they stand today. This leaves us two options: change our habits, or continue our habits at the expense of millions of innocent people - and animals, plants, and our very planet. The first option is far preferable on the moral compass, but far more difficult. Habits die hard. It is a cliche, but it is the truth. But there is indeed a formula to breaking a habit: make conscious efforts to change. Catch yourself when you fall back to the habit. Make incremental steps. And eventually, you will be changed.

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The TJSPI is, for me, the first step towards this change. By the changing the habits of a high school - the most local level we can get, apart from residential installations - we can influence change among ourselves, the people, the ones who drive this world. By showcasing the potential of renewable energy at a high school, we can push the use of renewable energy to greater heights. The ultimate would be, of course, that our model will be adopted by other high school across the area, then across the nation, then businesses will follow suit, until ultimately, the government will see an intense desire among our citizenry. They will see the desire to be liberated from the bonds of oil. The desire to live a guilt-free life, knowing that turning on the light will no longer eclipse the natural world in searing darkness. The desire to be at the forefront of the greatest technological, scientific, and moral revolution our great civilization has faced for centuries.

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I often appreciate the fact that one single action can have multiple consequences, and I strive to pursue those actions that have multiple positive consequences so as to maximize the benefit gained by humanity. In accordance with this philosophy, the TJSPI has multiple beneficial consequences that I believe in. Not only will the solar panels reduce our reliance on oil, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a model for other schools and for the nation, but they will have non-environmental benefits as well. Most important, for me, is the fact that the solar panels will reduce energy costs for the school, thus allowing funds to be redirected to other underfunded areas.

I have watched the TJSPI grow from nothing to something - something significant - and every moment of the journey has meant something not only to me, but to our many members as well. All of our time revolves around the TJSPI; we find ourselves researching some facts, finding companies to contact, writing letters, and dreaming of the TJSPI unintentionally. For myself, and all of our members, this entire path has been and will be one of the most significant we have ever taken in our young lives.

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-Varun

In-School Publicity

If my experience in the TJSPI has taught me one thing, it’s that fundraising is the most arduous, frustrating, and time consuming process ever, and publicizing is a close second. We’ve been working so hard recently to get the funds we need that we sort of neglected publicity, and it’s come back to bite us; last month we began to realize that we were going to be able to install the panels in a matter of months but that majority of the kids at TJ had no idea it was happening. To remedy this, we started going to school events such as theater productions and class fundraisers to set up our faithful tri-fold of information and to try to get students and their parents to notice us. The results have been varied. Some people walk by us and try to not make eye-contact, but others are genuinely interested. One elderly couple spent five minutes telling me that I’m a hero and an upstanding youth for making this effort to save the environment, and one kid got me into a full-blown debate over the existence of global warming and the definition of the apocalypse. The donations I’ve collected have also been varied. One kid gave me two dollars he found in his pocket because he wanted to find out if we really mailed donors a thank you letter, and yet one mom got so excited that she sat down right then and there and wrote me out a $250 check. On the whole I was encouraged by the amount of support and enthusiasm that I found in the school community. The primary goal of the TJSPI is to implement solar panels at TJ, but secondarily we want to inform people about the environmental crisis going on and how there are very accessible solutions, and I think we’re slowly but surely getting there.

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Sarah

J-Day

Well, J-Day, our school’s annual day of activities, food, and fun was held yesterday, May 30th. The TJSPI’s parent organization, the Environmental Impact Club, had a table and activity like we did last year. Like last year, our activity this year was EXTRAORDINARILY successful. But unlike last year, we actually made a substantial amount of money this year.

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This year, our activity was to make fondue (also called fruit kabobs), where we melted chocolate chips in a CooKit solar cooker and covered strawberries, marshmallows, bananas, and an assortment of delicious foods with the chocolate. We also had a solar panel powering the entire set-up, from the laptop to the speakers. Additionally, we had a letter-writing drive, which allowed students to write a handwritten, personalized letter to Sen. Webb urging him to support climate action legislation. And of course, we gave out free keychains promoting the use of reusable bags.

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Overall, it was a huge success. We made lots of money (always a plus), had many letters written (which will, hopefully, bring about change at the national level), and promoted the use of renewable energy among the school community to an extent never seen before. I can safely say that the TJSPI is now an integrated part of the culture at TJ, and has the active support of many.

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I would just like to mention a touching (for me, maybe not for others), action I saw occur a few times. We sold our product for $1. Every now and then, someone came up and gave us a $10, then urged us to keep the change, because “the solar panels are more important than my change.” Someone actually gave a $20 bill and said she didn’t even want to buy the fondue. In the large scheme of things, these acts of goodwill are minor. But for myself and the others who were volunteering at the booth at the time, it was enough to render us speechless. To those who care so much, thank you.

How You Can Help

One of the major goals of the TJSPI is to make the donation process more streamlined and efficient. We all hate it - or at least, I know I do - when we find an organization we’d love to donate to, do the research to donate to them, but then can’t figure out their esoteric process.

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Not with the TJSPI. Whether you are a company, a non-profit, a community member, a TJ parent or student, or anyone else in this world, we have a route for you to donate. And it’s not just monetary contributions that we accept: we will accept just about anything that will help us out in raising money, gaining publicity, etc.

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So that takes us to the all-important point: how can you help? If you are interested in donation money or material goods, please go to http://tjspi.110mb.com/howsp.php to download various informational packages on donating. These packages contain information on the TJSPI, a donation form, and lots of other material. (Note: Donations to the TJSPI are considered donations to a public educational institution, making your donation tax-deductible.) Every cent of funds and ounce of material you donate can go a very long way in helping us. To recognize your generosity, the TJSPI has set up a series of recognition measures to ensure that the many charitable people in our society, such as yourself, do not go unrecognized. All donors contributing $25 or more will have their name published, should they give us permission to do so, in a full-page newspaper advertisement that will be taken out at the end of this project. All donors contributing funds or goods valued at $1,000 or more will have their name engraved on a customized, digital, interactive donor wall with touch-screen monitors and a user interface to allow interaction with the solar panel arrays and equipment.

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If you are interested in donating your time, we are extremely grateful. Time is our biggest constraint, and any help puts us many hours and days closer to our goal. Please email us at the.tjspi@gmail.com to receive more information on how to help us with various activities. Thank you so much for your interest!

TJSPI Videos

Recently, the Earth Day Network was generous enough to produce a video about us, the TJSPI. It is just a short clip meant to reveal a bit of what goes on during our discussions, our thought processes, etc. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkjNdPEyB9k, or view the embedded video at the bottom of this post.

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We are currently filming and producing another video of our own. In contrast to the first video, this second video will be a more informational and introductional video clip to familiarize people to the TJSPI. Enjoy!

Earth Day Event

Whole Foods in Alexandria hosted Earth Day and gave us 5% of their sales for the day. Rep. Jim Moran (VA, 8th district) came to speak. Thanks to the generosity of Whole Foods, their customers, and all of those who helped plan for the event, we made $5315! Thank you!

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Our club was there and everyone got to meet Rep. Jim Moran.

Thomas Jefferson Solar Panel Initiative

The Thomas Jefferson Solar Panel Initiative is campaigning to help make our school and local community greener. Right now we are working to install solar panels on our school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Alexandria, VA. We believe that we can set an example and pioneer new alternative energy options to reduce our carbon footprint. As the threat of global warming looms, and as the cost of standard fuels soars, it is imperative that new forms of energy are used.

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We are in the process of fundraising to install the panels. So far we have $15000. Due to a generous discount from Standard Solar Inc., we can have a basic package with 16 panels for $20000. So if you want to help make our school green, please help our cause!

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Although installing solar panels on the school is our main focus, we have also been involved in other environmental advocacy campaigns. We have called and written to our congressmen, urging them to pass green legislation. We have petitioned to stop the Wise County Power Plant, a coal-burning power plant that would release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We have listened to many speakers about various environmental issues, and watched movies from about how war hurts the environment to global warming. If you go to TJHSST and want to join, just sign up for EIC Wednesday B blocks. If you do not go to TJ but would like to help, please view our post on How to Help - it should be posted in a few days. You, too, can make a difference!

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Please visit our website for more information: tjspi.110mb.com.