April
Countdown to Earth Day
Earth Day, which was officially recognized in 1970 with a mission to protect the environment and remind people of their shared responsibility, will be celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22.
Many ecologists and environmentalists agree that assuming personal behaviors that increase efficiency and reduce waste is the basis for meaningful and remarkable change. At Echo Horizon, we emphasize this with our students, especially as we honor Earth Day.
It is important to explain to young people what Earth Day represents. It is more than just one day; it is about keeping the conversation alive every day. At EHS, we have adopted this mindset. As we build ecoliteracy into our curriculum, our students are learning to make connections and understand their role in building a sustainable community. This year’s Earth Day theme embraces this. “It’s All Connected” is our focus this month. We are raising awareness among the students as we investigate where paper and plastic come from and where they go when they are disposed of.
No matter when Earth Day is observed, its message about the personal and social responsibility we all share to “think globally and act locally” has never been more important.
March
Green Cup Challenge
This February, EHS participated in the Green Cup Challenge™. We applaud and thank all of the students and faculty for their participation and active involvement. Together we successfully worked to lessen our environmental impact. The learning has been extraordinary! We all have become more aware of consumption and conservation. This lays the groundwork for becoming ecologically literate and understanding the basic principles of sustainability.
In four weeks, we have saved 12.33%. This month alone we reduced our CO2 emissions by 3,698 lbs. This equals the CO2 emissions from 225 gallons of gasoline consumed or 4.6 barrels of oil used.
The conversation of electrical consumption will easily be transferred to looking at other ways we consume. We will continue to raise awareness of consumption habits and strive to reduce our output. Our combined efforts have made a difference. For this, we should be proud.
The four-week Challenge is the first and only national student-driven, interschool Climate Challenge that supports student efforts to measure and reduce campus electricity use and related greenhouse gas emissions. It also encourages water efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling. EHS participated with 150 schools from around the nation. For more information visit www.greenschoolsalliance.org
The Green Team
November
Thanksgiving is about celebrating the earth and what it has to offer us. It is also a time to gather with family and friends. It’s a chance to re-connect with nature, give thanks and share the earth’s abundance. As you prepare for Thanksgiving, consider ways to simplify the holiday, reduce stress and make your holiday healthy and earth friendly. Here are 10 tips to help you capture the spirit of the original Thanksgiving by making your celebration eco-friendly. This will enhance your holiday experience, because you will know that you have reduced your impact on the environment. That’s something for which everyone can be thankful.
- Try and cook just the right amount of food for your family and friends. If you have too much food, send your guests home with a doggie bag. You can also donate leftover food to a local shelter or food bank.
- When you go to the store buy things that have the least amount of packaging and try to buy packaging that is environmentally friendly.
- Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping.
- Buy locally grown food. Locally grown is generally organic and requires less fuel to reach local store shelves which saves on fuel. It also contributes more to your local economy by supporting the local farmers and merchants.
- Serve your meal on cloth tablecloths and napkins, accompanied by real silverware, cups and plates. Purchase recycled paper products, if you need to have disposables.
- There's no need to buy fancy Thanksgiving decorations. Head outside and be inspired by the beauty in nature, like pinecones and branches. Even easier, reuse something from a previous year.
- Recycle paper, and all plastic, glass and aluminum containers. If you don’t already have a compost bin, use your Thanksgiving fruit and vegetable trimmings to start one.
- If you have to fly for the holidays, purchase carbon credits to offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by your flight. If you’re driving, consider carpooling and walk whenever possible.
- Keep your thermostat at an acceptable setting. Try lowering it a few degrees. This will conserve extra energy. If the outside temperature is cooperative, enjoy the breeze and leave the windows open instead.
- Whatever else you do on Thanksgiving, make it a time to say thank you to the people in your life who matter most.
Content pulled from the following web sites – about.com, treehuger.com, modernecohomes.com and mambosprouts.com
October
The EHS community is becoming more mindful of its commitments and values. Take a look around…
a lot is happening! Faculty and staff, students and their families are helping to shape how we can be stewards of the environment.
This fall our faculty and staff began a conversation on ethical consumerism. We are starting with the question, “How can we make EHS healthier and reduce our overall environmental impact?”
Head of School Paula Dashiell and I recently attended the Eco-Schools session at the Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, CA. This intensive workshop raised many questions, including a challenge by author and environmental studies scholar David Orr, “to transform education by opening young minds to the forgotten connections between people, places and nature.”
Our evolution continues!
-Ms. Wynn
REDUCE
- The school has switched to printing and copying on only recycled, acid-free, post-consumer content paper.
- We send an electronic Tuesday Bulletin and post more information on class webpages and
the school website when possible to avoid printing flyers.
- Faculty and staff have adopted a mindful approach when copying and printing.
We estimate that the school will save over 25,000 sheets of paper this year, just through
these efforts!
Parents and students can pack “no waste” lunches. A bit more time and creativity makes a difference! It's easy once you make it part of the daily routine.
- Use a lunch box or reusable sack and put food in reusable containers.
- Pack a reusable napkin, utensils and a thermos or other reusable beverage container.
- Purchase snacks in bulk size and repack into individual reusable containers.
- Prepare more fresh fruit and less prepackaged food.
- Pack only as much food as your child will eat.
- Label containers and water bottles to ensure they that they make it back home.
REUSE
- Students, faculty and staff are developing habits of reusing paper from recycle bins.
- Room Parents are buying in bulk and avoiding individual containers. They are also opting for healthier food choices.
- The Tuesday Envelope serves as an easy conduit for information between parents and the school. For years, we have reused these sturdy envelopes.
- The Second Graders worked the compost they collected last year into the front gardens. A new compost bin makes the process easier and more kid-friendly.
- This year’s Spirit Items include stainless steel water bottles. They are lightweight, durable and a healthy and safe alternative to plastic. EHS discourages the use of plastic bottles. The EHS logo also adorns a reusable grocery bag. One person can divert over 22,000 plastic bags from the waste stream by reusing bags!
RECYCLE
We use biodegradable paper goods for Hot Lunch and special events.
We collect paper, metal cans and glass and plastic bottles in bins located throughout the building. We exchange our toner cartridges and dispose of hazardous waste, such as batteries and computers.