Earth Day Network to Supply Official Curriculum of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2011

For Immediate Release Contact Sean S. Miller Earth Day Network 202-518-0044

Earth Day Network to Supply Official Curriculum of the U.S.Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2011

Washington, DC (September 23, 2011) – Earth Day Network today unveiled its education curriculum specifically created for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2011. Months in the making and in partnership with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Education Association and others, this curriculum presents an incredible educational opportunity for schools and communities to examine the potential of solar power in the 21^st century. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is a biennial competition among colleges who construct livable homes incorporating solar power on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The schools subsequently compete to determine the best solar-powered house of the competition. “We’ve incorporated real data from several school-based, solar panel systems in rural America into our curriculum,” said Sean S. Miller, Education Director at Earth Day Network. “As a result, the curriculum seeks to instill a basic understanding of how photovoltaic solar panels and their potential to solve real-life problems related to the economy, the environment and the field of education.” While created for a middle school audience, the curriculum has learning opportunities for the entire K-12 spectrum. The four documents encompass multiple themes related to solar energy such as the creation of photovoltaic solar panels and the evoluntiary growth of the solar industry. The curricula also contains contributions from three member teachers of Earth Day Network’s 30,000 member Educators’ Network. This educational resource packet is available at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2011 website (www.solardecathlon.gov). About Earth Day Network Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement, driving action year-round. Earth Day Network does this through advocacy, education, public policy, and consumer campaigns. For example, EDN’s Green Schools program provides tools to assist K-12 schools with finding cost-effective ways to enhance student learning and health, reduce operational costs and environmental impacts, and increase a community’s overall quality and competitiveness (archiveedn.wpengine.com).