What does it mean to reduce our carbon footprint and go green?
Essentially, our carbon footprint is a measure of the effect of our activities on the environment, including climate change. An organization that has embraced the concept of "going green" is committed to reducing the negative impact of its activities on the environment.
What conservation and eco-friendly initiatives has Trinity School implemented?
Among Trinity's green initiatives are:
- Zero Waste Snack Week: One week each month is designated Zero Waste Snack Week at Trinity. During that week, Trinity students are encouraged to bring their daily snack in recyclable or reusable containers. Students who successfully participate in Zero Waste Snack Week are recognized in Trinity's weekly newsletter and in Trinity's Green Hall of Fame. The goal is to encourage staff, students and parents to recognize the small ways in which they can make a difference in reducing waste.
- Sweat Shirt Week: During the winter months, Trinity asks all students to wear sweat shirts to school one week each month, so that Trinity can reduce its heat and conserve energy. Trinity compares energy consumption during Sweat Shirt Week to energy consumption during other winter weeks to gauge the amount of energy saved from this practice.
- Trinity Recycling Program: Trinity makes every effort to recycle suitable materials and encourages students and families to do the same. A magazine and paper retriever is located in the parking lot of the gymnasium. Parents, students, and faculty bring magazines and other papers and place them in the bin. Students are responsible for emptying the various recycle bins throughout the campus and transporting the materials to the paper retriever bin. The money Trinity earns from this recycling is then used to fund additional recycling on campus.
- Energy Audits: Trinity regularly conducts energy audits to ensure that electricity is not being consumed unnecessarily. Students regularly visit classrooms and other areas of the school to check whether lights are on in empty classrooms and offices.
I've heard construction of a Trinity outdoor classroom is complete. What is it and how does it relate to Trinity's going green efforts?
At Trinity we understand the importance of teaching our children about the environment and our impact on it. Classroom instruction is a critical tool in promoting respect for the earth and living things. Our curriculum includes study of such topics as the Earth, Energy, Living Things and Ecosystems. Each year students and teachers engage in a variety of activities on Earth Day that complement our going green efforts.
The outdoor classroom permits teachers to draw from the rich environment just outside our buildings and teach students about the environment in and with the environment.
With the construction of Trinity's first outdoor classroom, we signal our commitment to making environmental consciousness and conservation integral parts of our curriculum.
What can I do to help?
If you are a Trinity parent, supporting and encouraging Trinity and its students in their going green efforts is a great start. In addition, we encourage each member of the Trinity family to adopt green practices at work and at home. The following websites are additional sources of information about the green revolution and provide tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint:
- The Daily Green, a consumer's guide to "going green" from GoodHousekeeping.com
- Learn the Issues: Green Living, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website that provides information about ways you can reduce your environmental footprint, from suggestions about everyday grocery purchases to tips on making your home more energy efficient (visitors can also sign up to receive the EPA's Going Green monthly newsletter)
- 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green, a website sponsored by the Worldwatch Institute that provides tips on "going green" and "saving green"
- Low Impact Living, use the environmental impact calculator to determine how your lifestyle impacts the environment and review tips on how to "go green"