The Ecotecas (Environmental Awareness Raising Centre) Network of the Azores from the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea will promote a comprehensive activity programme to celebrate the National Day of Energy on May 29.
The initiatives, which cover different audiences, will take place on several Islands of the Regions and include lectures, study visits, pedestrian walks, and several campaigns with the purpose of making the population aware of the energy issues.
The Ribeira Grande Ecoteca has accompanied the students from the Secondary School in the visits to the Lagoa do Fogo Geothermal Power Plant and to the Salto do Cabrito Hydropower Plant. In addition to provide information session on renewable energies and on energy saving, the “ecoteca” is also providing support to the construction of a solar oven.
The Lagoa Ecoteca, which has already held a session the teacher of the municipality of Vila Franca on Global Warming and climate change, will participate in a Children Fair, organised by the local council, where it will boost the “jogo da Glória” (the glory game), titled “Pegada Ecológica” (Ecological Footstep), a hobby with a strong component of energetic efficiency.
Through practical activities, the Ponta Delgada Ecoteca has been displaying and experimenting teaching materials that demonstrate the advantages of using renewable energies, since yesterday.
The Santa Maria Ecoteca will celebrate this event through an exchange of light bulbs and the distribution of leaflets with advice for the sustainable use of energy.
The Faial Ecoteca will promote a study visit to the Wind farm of Faial Island, an initiatives that will make children acquainted with the working method concerning this type of energy.
With regard to the Angra do Heroísmo Ecoteca, a pedestrian walk to Ribeiras de São Brás is scheduled for today, a walk that will focus the theme on “Lenha recurso energetic do passado – Biomassa recurso energetico do presente” (Wood an energy source from the past – Biomass an energy source for the present), and will also count upon the participation of the Angra do Heroísmo Basic Education School.
On São Jorge Island, the local “ecoteca” will be at the Calheta Football camp with elementary schools, with the purpose of developing environmental awareness raising activities under the energy theme.
The Pico Ecoteca will promote information sessions on Energy and Climate Change. The initiatives will be undertaken through a partnership with DECO (Consumer Defence Association), being addressed at the community.
Furthermore, the Graciosa Ecoteca will organise a field trip for elementary students to the Serra Brava Wind farm. Visiting old windmills and discovering the genesis of wind generators and the solution that these might offer are the main goals of this visit, an activity titles as “Do vento à luz” (From wind to light).
On the Island of Flores, the Regional Director for the Energy will speak at an information session on Renewable Energies, an event scheduled for 8:30 PM at Ocidental Hotel.