Chris Stevens, an Ecotech Institute student, wanted to help pick up recycling along The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade route in order to keep this favorite green holiday truly as “green” as possible. He took his idea to parade organizers and from there it turned into a float in the parade that could gather recycling along the route. Students and staff at Ecotech Institute rallied around Chris and today they are making final preparations on the float, which will include a student made recycling bin to collect all recyclables collected during the parade, a truck outfitted with solar panels and a wind turbine.
“It has been remarkable watching my vision come to life,” said Chris. “I originally just wanted to help pick up trash and it’s turned into so much more. Building our Eco-Float has been an exciting adventure that brought several students together in great ways and I’m so proud of what we’ve put together. Our efforts will keep the parade route much cleaner.”
Ecotech Institute is the first and only school in the U.S. that is solely dedicated to sustainable energy, such as solar and wind. Chris is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering technology and will graduate this April. For him, this idea was simple, but sends a powerful message.
“We have to care about not only where our energy is coming from as we look ahead, but also how we’re taking care of our planet today. Small changes can make a difference and we’re excited to help divert trash from the landfill – giving it a second life,” said Chris.
To see images of the float’s progress you can keep up with the construction team by following Ecotech’s social media updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EcotechInstitute and Twitter at @Ecotech_Inst.
Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colo., currently offers eight associate’s degree programs:
- Facility Management Technology
- Energy Efficiency
- Solar Energy Technology
- Wind Energy Technology
- Renewable Energy Technology
- Electrical Energy Technology
- Power Utility Technician
- Business Administration – Sustainability.
For more information on Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.