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Greetings,
Last year's YES! teams included 370 students representing 27 schools and communities across southern and central Minnesota. They worked with over 100 businesses and 180 community members to realize their energy action projects. These energy action projects impacted an additional 10,700 students and 14,000 community members. This year, as YES! gears up for our 6th season, we're looking forward to our teams generating even more impact!
The YES! staff support the YES! teams and help them achieve their maximum impact. This year's YES! staff includes returning Coordinators Aleta Kolan and Shelli-Kae Foster. We welcome our newest Coordinator, Jon Morales.
We are energized and ready for an eventful and fulfilling season, and we look forward to keeping you updated about the accomplishments of YES!. YES! is looking to engage more students this year, so if your school or community is interested in hosting a YES! team, visit our Prospective Teams page or email us. Enjoy the highlights below and visit our website for more news and updates.
Sincerely,
The YES! Staff
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YES! in Action
Litchfield YES! Team's Solar Panel Installation and Education Project
The Litchfield YES! team, a YES! Grand Prize winner for the 2011-2012 season, is once again in the news. It was recently announced that they were awarded a $3,500 seed grant from Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) for a solar panel installation project at Litchfield High School. CERTs recently announced 27 Seed Grants awarded across a broad spectrum of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Litchfield students will work with a contractor to implement solar electric panels on their school building, in hopes of generating between 500-800 kWh/month. They will also work with the contractor to provide energy education and information about the panels in order to engage both their fellow students and their community. The YES! team plans to connect with the media and offer open houses and energy education opportunities for students and the public.
Congratulations to the Litchfield YES! team for being selected as a recipient of a CERTs seed grant!
YES! Video: What does YES! mean to you?
Hear it straight from the students! The new YES! video shows what the program is all about. YES! goes far beyond education and projects to inspire action. Students, coaches and community members involved tell this engaging story. Watch the video online.
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Energy Business Highlight
John Duevel of Three Seasons & More in Willmar
If there was ever anyone that gave the saying "fly by the seat of your pants" a good name, it would be John Duevel. John's company, Three Seasons and More in Willmar, MN thrives on the challenges of designing, engineering, and implementing sustainable technologies in ways that bypass roadblocks and focus on the mission at hand. John maintains the perspective that a step in the right direction is good for everyone, no matter who takes it.
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John Duevel helping YES! students build solar hot air panels
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The goal of John and Three Seasons and More is to appropriately allocate limited resources in a way that is most efficient and helpful. Looking toward the future, John sees the benefits and necessity of people who have the ability to see solutions that integrate sustainable technologies.
John considers himself lucky to have worked with various YES! teams, including New London-Spicer and Litchfield. John believes that the benefits of YES! are far-reaching. The innovative ways that YES! builds awareness, facilitates solutions, and promotes leadership to implement those solutions has a cumulative effect which demonstrates why programs like YES! are so important to communities. |
Upcoming Fall Event
 | | YES! teams gather at YES! Summit 2011 at Gustavus College |
This October 31 marks Halloween as well as the 2012 YES! Fall Summit. We will bring together as many as 30 YES! teams from across the state at the Redwood Area Community Center for a variety of educational experiences surrounding the theme "one you, many connections". We will motivate the students to take on impactful and meaningful projects and connect them to the information and resources they need to be successful. Most importantly, we look forward to engaging students in experiential learning while inspiring them to think differently about energy issues and opportunities.
We are excited to once again facilitate discussions between YES! teams and representatives from energy-related businesses and organizations. If you would like to participate in a meaningful conversation with these energetic young people, contact Cheryl Glaeser via email at [email protected].
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Did You Know...  | |
IKEA's Minnesota store recently installed a 142,000 square-foot photovoltaic array
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IKEA's store, across from the Mall of America in Bloomington,recently installed a 142,000 square-foot photovoltaic array. It consists of 4,316 solar panels and, depending on the amount of sunshine, it will generate up to 80% of the store's electrical needs. This means that these solar panels will produce enough energy in a year to power 100 homes, or eliminate the emissions of 157 cars!
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YES! empowers youth to partner with their community to create economic and environmental vitality through hands-on learning and team-based projects.
YES! provides a unique opportunity for students to learn by engaging directly in community efforts that lead to dramatic demonstrations of renewable energy technology and conservation practices and exposes them to how science is applied in real life. |
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YES! Program Partners
Additional Program Funders
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