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Outfitted with an array of environmental products such as energy saving devices, carpeting made of recycled soda cans and a composting toilet, the 1,100 square foot house that Souderton Area High School "Students Against Violating the Earth" (SAVE) built reveals the practical side of being green.

As a general rule, people don't like change; particularly "environmentally-friendly" change, which is often perceived as being expensive as well as inconvenient. Dispelling this misconception can be difficult, but SAVE teens have found a way - Project EFFECT.

Built in 1998 with $40,000 raised by the students themselves and another $32,000 won from SeaWorld's Environmental Excellence Awards contest for the best environmental design project, Project EFFECT (Environmentally Friendly Facility Exploring Conservation Technologies) is a demonstration home that incorporates a long list of achievable ways to reduce one's ecological footprint; and it's open to the public, for inspiration. SAVE members are also creating action opportunities for those they've inspired.

The most recent SAVE "Community Recycling Day" brought in 2200 tons of materials to be recycled including, cardboard, tires, computers, paper and 11 tons of "junk mail"! Over the holidays, approximately 500 Christmas trees were collected by SAVE, chipped by the township and used to mulch the nature trails surrounding Project EFFECT.

These same trails are used for environmental education initiatives like the annual Community Night Hike program lead by Lauren Moore, a senior at Souderton Area High School and 3-year SAVE member. This community-based project is aimed at raising awareness of how humans and animals interact and instilling respect for nature in both children and adults. Complete with storytelling and a bonfire, these themed hikes are an effective method for relaying key environmental messages to the approximately 800 local community members who attend.

Meghan McAllister, president of the Souderton High School senior class and active SAVE member has written and received her first Youth Venture grant to support the establishment of a local food co-op and eco-store. Community supported agriculture (CSA) orders will be taken through the High School and picked up at the Project EFFECT house, where an assortment of environmental household products and other organic food items will also be sold.

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