Sean Goodrich is a student who has learned a lot in high school about environmental responsibility and is looking forward to learning even more at college!  That's where he hopes to further his study of conservation in the field of engineering. Here's, in his own words, is Sean's 'Go Green' experience. 

Sean Goodrich
Grade 12
Webster Schroeder H.S.
September 2009- Go Green Student of the Month

I am not the most Conservation or “green” person on this earth and I will admit that.  It’s not something that just popped into my mind one morning.  Mr. Gill, my 11th grade energy systems teacher, taught some of my friends and me that conservation of natural resources is a very important part of modern America, whether it is trees, fossil fuels or metals such as steel and aluminum. You live green everyday in every way, shape, and form by the choices you make in transportation to the devices you power at home and workplace.  For me, going green isn’t something stupid for eco-freaks, it’s a way for us to conserve resources for future generations and allow them to see the world the way that we have and have wanted too.

Small steps every day can help improve conservation.  During the summer, I try to ride my bike to school as often as possible and I also turn off modern vampire electronics such as my computer and the TV.  I myself took a large step by building a more energy efficient computer over the summer.  This new computer used a motherboard that removes unneeded power from the system in period of low use.  I also started driving a 4-cylinder on long trips.  In addition, I have put my family’s electronics on power strips so we can turn the power flow to them off completely when they are not being used.  I have also made sure my robotics team recycles its used metals and this year I am hoping to get us reusable plates to cut down on waste.  I personally use only reusable drink containers and try to compact all trash that I make to reduce landfill space.

But the use of hydrocarbon fuels is still evident in many parts of my life. 

Today, one of the biggest things I have done is built an aquaponics system to allow for a sustainable garden in my home to cut down on the use of fossil fuels for transportation and farming equipment.  This has also led me to my senior project and in a sense, my job field.  Since I am looking at systems and industrial engineering, I can help make an impact by helping companies cut waste and excess emissions, one of the world’s biggest problems at the moment.

Sean L. Goodrich