Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2010

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Students from the Family Care Center talked with residents of Christian Towers about energy-saving tips and gave away CFL bulbs.

While most schools these days sponsor a “green team,” students at the Family Care Center have additional incentive to take better care of the environment.

“We’re going to leave this Earth to our kids,” said senior Tania Verdin, “so we’re trying to get the word out.”

The Family Care Center, which is a partnership between Fayette County Public Schools and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, is an alternative program for teen mothers. The center’s 2-year-old green team, led by teacher Laura Zimmerman, has gained momentum – doubling in size to about two dozen students.

“It’s optional – they don’t have to participate. But they are ready to do whatever – such as picking up trash in the parking lot,” Zimmerman said, noting how the girls are particularly more conscious now about recycling.

Team members participated in the citywide Cans for Cash challenge and heard from Bluegrass PRIDE about a new kind of environmentally friendly diaper. Another of their projects is vermicomposting with red wiggler worms, which feast mostly on banana peels and coffee grounds. This spring, the teens plan to stencil storm drains to remind people not to dump oil and other debris that pollutes water supplies.

“Us being mothers, we want to go green to save the world for our kids,” said Tracy Fields, who just completed her graduation requirements. “Everybody wants to be a part of it.”

In the green team’s most recent project, about a dozen girls visited elderly residents at the nearby Christian Towers, where they shared energy-saving tips and gave away CFL bulbs.

According to Energy Star, a compact fluorescent light bulb will save users about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about six months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

“Most likely it’s new to them, and we need to educate them, too,” Tracy said of the older generation.

She also looks forward to teaching her children how to be good stewards of the Earth and credits the Family Care Center with giving her a strong foundation.

“The green team is very determined to get through to people so they understand how important it is,” she said.