SUSTAINABILITY

From the PC/CC pollinator garden to the MS sustainability club and the AP Environmental Science course in the Upper School, GA girls have ample opportunity to learn about the environment in a positive and productive manner. 

Lower School

• The pollinator garden and vegetable garden at the Ridgeview Avenue Campus are used to teach lessons in science and sustainability.
• The Group IV student Greening Committee shares presentations with their peers on ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle at the Lower School’s weekly assemblies.
• A highlight of the third grade year is Into the Wild, a program that has the girls spend every Friday of the spring trimester exploring and investigating the outdoors.
• Groups I-IV community service initiatives often involve recycling projects and clean-up campaigns at local parks and green spaces. 

Middle School

• Sustainability ethics are included in the curriculum to help students understand their relationship with the environment and prepare them to be informed, responsible members of the community. 
• Conservation Club is one of the most popular clubs in the Middle School. In the first half of the school year, the club identifies and carries out a sustainability project within the GA community; in the second half of the girls dive into a topic of national or international consequence and help educate their Middle School peers. 

Upper School

• Several course offerings including AP Environmental Sciences, and the Honors Expedition Biology Class gives students the opportunity to dive deep into the study of the environment. 
• Upper School students have the opportunity to influence and participate in the school’s sustainability initiatives by joining parents and faculty/staff on the Greenwich Academy Green Team. 

GA’s administration and facilities team are continually seeking ways to reduce the school’s impact on the environment, to make decisions that are consistent with our commitment to sustainability. 
 

• New Construction: Sustainability is a key decision-making criteria in all campus construction projects. For example, our new Lower School building and associated renovations will feature sustainable and locally sourced stone and wood, energy efficient lighting, the planting of a net new 225 trees, restoration of wetlands, and an electric car charging station. Find more info on Master Plan Phase I sustainability initiatives here.
• Green Cleaning: GA implements green cleaning practices in all our buildings including use of environmentally safe cleaning products and cleaning procedures that reduce chemical usage and overspray. 
• Composting: Food waste from our dining hall operations is collected daily for composting and transported to nearby farms. 
• Energy management: Over the last 10 years, GA has reduced its energy usage by 25% through the installation of more energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, motion-activated light sensors, and smart climate control systems. 
• Grounds Management: GA’s integrated pest management plan includes organic turf care and a pesticide-free campus. With ongoing campus renovation projects, GA is removing invasive species and replace them with native trees and plants. 
• Transportation: To reduce pollution and traffic congestion, GA actively encourages students, faculty, and staff to use public transportation, walk/bike to school, or take town or GA-sponsored bus services. Faculty and staff are also offered an incentive to leave their cars at home. 

GA’s sustainability efforts have been recognized both locally and nationally.

• LEED Certification: GA’s Middle School building has been awarded a LEED Silver rating. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the national benchmark for the design, construction, and operations of high-performance green buildings.
• Green Ribbon School: Awarded to GA in 2014, This distinction honors schools that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education. 
• Schoolyard Pollinator Project Grant: Awarded through the National Wildlife Federation, the Lego Community Fund, and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association