As part of this year's National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) - which just so happens to be focusing on the water-energy nexus - River Network is teaming up with Earth Day Network and the National Environmental Education Foundation for a webinar on Tuesday, March 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The webinar is open to everybody registered for EE Week, and registration is free so don't miss out!

In case you're not familiar with the National Environmental Education Foundation and EE Week, check out our previous blog post about EE Week's “Be Water and Energy Wise” theme. In short, EE Week provides thousands of educators - from K-12 teachers to zoos and museums - with information, lesson plans and activities designed to foster environmental learning and stewardship among students. River Network's Saving Water, Saving Energy program has been involved with providing materials for EE Week's 2010 theme of "Be Water and Energy Wise," and will be sharing some of that information during the webinar.

Here's the lowdown on the event:

EE Week Educator Webinar: Teaching the Water-Energy Connection

Tuesday, March 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time

Have you ever wondered how far your water travels to get to your kitchen faucet? Or thought about how much energy is used for a hot shower? Did you know that water is a key ingredient in the process of producing electricity from coal and other thermoelectric energy sources?

Generating power consumes 3 percent of our nation's water annually and 13 percent of the energy produced in this country each year is used to treat, transport and heat our water (source: River Network). Conserving water saves energy, and vice versa. Our nation's water and energy resources are increasingly important topics of discussion not just in the news, but in classrooms and homes as well. The water-energy connection is complex, but it provides an excellent opportunity to engage students in learning about the interrelatedness of ecological and environmental concerns.

Registered National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) 2010 participants are invited to join us for EE Week’s first ever webinar – Teaching the Water-Energy Connection – to be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. During the webinar, educators will hear from representatives of River Network’s Saving Water, Saving Energy program about the water requirements of electricity production, as well as the energy needed to treat, transport and heat the water we use every day. Participants will also learn about water and energy conservation projects taking place in schools across the country as well as lesson plans developed by Earth Day Network on the water-energy connection.

Register for EE Week by Thursday, March 25 to participate in this online professional development experience. Registration is free, and registered participants will receive webinar login information via email prior to the webinar.