Since it’s getting close to the end of the school year, is anyone interested in running for a leadership position within the club? We can vote on it at one of the next club meetings.

By Melissa Mello

In most cases, when we speak of progress, we describe it as taking steps forward, but not this time. Instead, Worcester Academy is taking care to retrace its path, and reduce its carbon footprints. By Signing the Green Schools Climate Commitment last fall, our campus pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020. In order to meet this goal we must secure renewable energy sources, improve and implement the best operational and cultural conservation and efficacy practices, and purchase carbon-credits.

If you have any ideas or suggestions of things the club should do then post your idea here.

Post any environmental news here. Some sites for environmental news:

http://www.enn.com/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032493/

http://environmentalnewsonline.com/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/environment.html

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/earth/

I did some research on plastic vs. aluminum reusable bottles. Here’s what i found:

 

The worldwide specific energy consumption is approximately 15 kilowatt-hours per kilogram of aluminum produced.

Aluminum has no known function in living cells and presents some toxic effects in elevated concentrations.

Exposure to aluminum can cause respiratory and neurological problems.

Exposure to aluminum is generally not harmful, but can be dangerous in high amounts.

The mining and processing of aluminum is extremely resource-intensive

Plastic water bottles often contain polycarbonate, which leaches BPA, a synthetic hormone that can mimic estrogen and cause prostate cancer.

Plastic water bottles are more dangerous to human health, but the manufacturing process is less energy-intensive. However, plastic is only biodegradable over a very long period of time.

 

-ryan

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts22.html

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2006/07/12/foil/

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/12/29/10-reasons-to-stop-drinking-bottled-water/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic

Post your recycling assisgnments here. I have the copy room in Kingsley and first floor of Dexter.

-ryan

If you have any ideas of fundraisers we could do for the club, or environmental projects we could fund with the money we already have (we sponsored a reforestation project in Haiti two years ago) then post them here. Also, does anyone know if we are still planning on doing the waterbottle fundraiser?

-ryan

Mr. Carroll’s project challenge:

1. How could we systematically collect, organize, and distribute for re-use all the useable paper that gets thrown away or recycled?

First, keep in mind that this Blog will be open to the public so private information and/or controversial information about people and/or the school should be filtered.

How do we want to set up this Blog?

Pages are typically used for permanent issues, topics, or projects.

Posts can be similar, but also tend to be more current events in the club, school, and world.

Links are organized, as are the posts (this one is listed under Blog Formatting, while the first post is listed under Meeting Notes), under categories.

We can build each category and page as needed.

Discussed

1. setting up Blog.

2. letter to Headmaster regarding disposables in the dining hall

3. briefly addressed GCC results

Below is a letter for the Club to review and give feedback on. Use the comment section below  and/or email to each other.

WA Environmental Club
February 5, 2009
Dear Mr. Morse,
We are writing you today to suggest some positive changes that we recommend to make WA become more sustainable. As you know, we are in the midst of the Green Cup Challenge Competition, and in addition to reducing energy use, we want to look for other ways to reduce our impacts on the environment.
As a club we are currently working on a project to sell WA reusable water bottles to faculty and students. We are hoping that more students will use reusable water bottles, so we can reduce our school’s waste. In addition to this, we request that the school can look into eliminating the use of bottled water, instead using tap water. This will save the school money, both because there will be less water bottles thrown out or recycled, and the school will not have to pay extra for the tap water.
Additionally, the club requests that the school eliminate the use of Styrofoam plates and cups in the dining hall. Since there are reusable cups and plates in the dining hall, it is more environmentally responsible to stop using disposable dining materials. Research has shown that Americans generate more waste than any other nation in the world, with 4.5 pounds of municipal solid waste per person per day. As a school, we have a great opportunity to be a leader in environmental responsibility by reducing our waste while saving money. We greatly appreciate your consideration of our requests.
Sincerely,
Ryan Barry                                                        Stephen Wright
Co-Presidents of the Environmental Club