PITTSBURGH, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 1,000 Pennsylvania teachers will have received free teaching materials and hands-on training in renewable energy and energy efficiency as of the milestone November 14, 2012 Sustainable Energy Education Workshop being held by Citizen Power. Citizen Power, a non-profit environmental and consumer advocacy organization, started the Sustainable Energy Education Project in 2008 with the goal of helping teachers better understand sustainable energy solutions and, more importantly, inspiring students by passing on this knowledge. These 1,000 teachers are now reaching some 70,000 students per year with the sustainable energy lessons, helping to boost science and environmental literacy in our schools. The program has traveled all over western Pennsylvania, working with school districts, intermediate units, and many regional and state-wide serving organizations such as Phipps Conservatory,  Carnegie Science Center, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Regional Center for Science Teachers, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Catholic Diocese, and Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania.

With Pennsylvania schools reeling from $860 million in budget cuts in 2011-2012, teachers have found the Sustainable Energy Education Project's workshops a welcome opportunity to receive free high-quality professional training and over $170 worth of classroom resources such as photovoltaic and concentrating solar kits, wind turbines, LED light bulbs, books and DVDs. In addition to these workshops where teachers receive Pennsylvania Department of Education continuing education credits, Citizen Power has also provided grants to schools and non-profit organizations to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency and conservation education and technologies. Notable projects include a 2.4 kW wind turbine installation, a microbial fuel cell study, occupant sensor lighting and wind, solar and hydropower kits for classrooms. Citizen Power also enables students to do mini-energy audits of their schools through a tool kit lending program. In many cases students have uncovered problems that administration and facilities managers have been able to rectify using no- or low-cost solutions, thus helping schools save money on their energy bills.

Further demonstrating their commitment to promoting sustainable energy, Citizen Power, in partnership with electricity supplier TriEagle Energy, developed the Green Energy Collaborative - bringing an affordable 100% Pennsylvania wind energy option to residential and commercial electricity consumers. Interested consumers can find out more and sign up at lowcostwind.com or by calling 412-421-7029.

To find out more about Citizen Power, please visit citizenpower.com.

SOURCE Citizen Power