News and Events : News 06-07

High Schools Push for Energy Conservation

GILL, MA—Last winter, three boarding schools in the northeast competed to see who could conserve the most electricity and spared the air almost 400,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. This year, 15 schools—as many as 12,000 people—are competing in the Green Cup Challenge, including, in Franklin County, MA, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Stonleigh-Burnham School, and Deerfield Academy. Whichever school cuts usage by the largest percentage over the month of February, compared with a baseline measurement, wins a megaplanet trophy by Shelburne-based artist Josh Simpson, as well as other sustainable prizes.

“By reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants we’re trying to reduce our impact on the environment,” says Becca Leslie, an environmental science teacher at NMH who with teachers from Exeter and Lawrenceville is running the contest for the 15 schools. “It’s an exciting and competitive way to include the entire community in taking responsibility for our actions.” Data collected during the contest will be incorporated into NMH’s curriculum.

Likewise, at Stoneleigh-Burnham, science teacher and school Conservation Society advisor Beth Stinchfield is using the Challenge to integrate the topic of sustainability across disciplines. “Our hope is that the Challenge will encourage people to look at where their food is coming from, the kinds of light bulbs they use and the wider implications of the little things we do every day.”

Students are making videos to spur conservation and schools will screen films such as An Inconvenient Truth, Killowatt Ours, and Who Killed the Electric Car? NMH will hold Dining in the Dark on Valentine’s Day, February 14, serving dinner by candlelight to draw awareness to the effort. Stoneleigh-Burnham will be holding its Dining in the Dark event on Thursday February 15.

Prizes have been donated by the Greenfield-based Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, the Greenfield Solar Store, as well as Annie’s Homegrown, Aveda, Bamboo Clothes, Ben and Jerry’s, Cagoule Fleece, Center for a New American Dream, Chelsea Green Publishing, Gaiam, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Live it Green, Native Energy, Newman's Own, OnetonCO2, Seventh Generation, and Stonyfield Farm.

The Green Cup Challenge began as a school-wide challenge at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH, in 2005. NMH, Exeter, and the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey participated in 2006 and NMH narrowly won the challenge. This year, 15 boarding schools from seven states will be participating.

Contact: Kate Snyder, 413-498-3357 or ksnyder@nmhschool.org.

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