Service Learning in Sustainable Lighting: A Field Study Engaging Populations High in Rural Native Americans

The project engaged students in sustainable lighting education and involved them in rural United States communities with high Native American populations. As part of a research grant, faculty developed a service learning curriculum. Students were taught how to measure and document existing lighting conditions, including ultraviolet light levels in state-owned historic homes filled with museum artifacts. Students worked under the supervision of museum staff. Students also provided sustainable lighting education to local consumers who were residents of lower income communities. Although study participants consistently ranked incandescent light highest in positive lighting attributes, compact fluorescent light ranked a close second. Student demonstrations of sustainable lighting were integral to consumer education and as a result of these student-led educational sessions more participants agreed to consider purchasing compact fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs. Thousands of consumers beyond the study participants were reached through exposure at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Student Design Expo and a permanently-linked video documentary of the research process.