CSW & The Sustainable Community Leader Program | The Garthwaite Center for Science and Art
The Cambridge School of Weston is committed to taking important steps to help lower its carbon footprint and encourage our community to be mindful of waste, energy usage and other ways to reduce and conserve.
The Cambridge School of Weston is committed to taking important steps to help lower its carbon footprint and encourage our community to be mindful of waste, energy usage and other ways to reduce and conserve.
The Sustainability Committee is comprised of students and adults in the CSW community working together to help implement the recommendations of the Sustainable Community Leader Program (SCLP). The committee creates and supports a systematic and ongoing sustainability culture on campus and works to develop clear plans for making CSW a more sustainable community. Each class elects representatives to serve on the committee, and two students from each dorm are elected as Sustainability Stewards, supporting sustainable practices in the residential community.
The Sustainability Champion is a new way to honor members who have inspired others to live more responsibly and/or demonstrated commitment to a project that has made a significant contribution to our sustainability initiative.
In the fall of 2013, CSW proudly became the first school to participate in the Sustainable Community Leader Program (SCLP), a program that supports non-profit organizations, community groups, and houses of worship in their efforts to improve their environmental practices and reduce their carbon footprint. Over the course of two years, CSW and SCLP worked to develop and implement a comprehensive school-wide sustainability plan.
In early 2015, as a result of this tireless work, CSW became the first independent high school in the region to be certified as a Sustainable Community Leader by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts.
Fostering an understanding of ecosystem health and instilling a sense of individualized responsibility to respect and preserve the environment are key components of CSW’s science program. The Garthwaite Center for Science and Art was constructed of materials and systems that reflect an emphasis on sustainability, including composting toilets, a wood pellet boiler, passive solar collection system and non-toxic materials and finishings. In 2008, the building won the Top Ten award by the American Institute of Architect’s Committee on the Environment.
My passion for sustainability will stay with me for the rest of my life.
"I take seriously the trust the community has put in me as co-head of the Sustainability Committee. My fellow committee members and I have been involved in major school decisions regarding issues of sustainability and the things I’ve learned will stay with me for the rest of my life."
— Tetsuya, Kusatsu, Japan
Monitoring Energy Usage on Campus
Students and faculty members on the Sustainability Committee keep close tabs on the school's energy usage throughout the school year, monitoring:
- Electricity Use
- Natural Gas Use
- Water Use
Sustainable Facilities Practices
CSW's Facilities Department has led the effort in utilizing sustainable practices throughout campus. Their work has included:
- Using organic fertilizer, integrating pest management
- Watering fields from a well/sprinklers on timers
- Using low flow plumbing fixtures/auto shut-offs
- Upgrading heating systems and day/night thermostats
- Renovating furniture as opposed to purchasing new items
- Using low wattage lighting/motion sensors
CSW is an "Idle Free Campus"
We are currently asking all community members to help make CSW an "Idle Free Campus." This means that when students, faculty members, and visitors are waiting in their cars for afternoon pick-ups or morning drop-offs, they make sure to turn off their car’s engine.
Why go "Idle Free"? There are many reasons. For example, for every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile. Going "Idle Free" decreases fuel consumption, contributes to a healthier campus, and promotes a sustainable 21st Century lifestyle.
Why go "Idle Free"? There are many reasons. For example, for every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile. Going "Idle Free" decreases fuel consumption, contributes to a healthier campus, and promotes a sustainable 21st Century lifestyle.
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.