Green Cup 2009 Results

The formal 4-week long 2009 Green Cup Challenge proved to be challenging for WA; there was a slight increase in electricity consumption (2%) compared to the baseline calculated from the 2007-2008 winter. This increase is misleading as last years baseline was lower than previous years due to the influence of WA’s 10% energy drop for the 2008 GCC.

There were many concrete benefits to this years GCC. 150 participating schools from across the country experienced collective carbon dioxide reductions of over 2.4 million pounds. This ever-increasing network of schools continue to colloborate on all things sustainable. Here on campus 77 people from Worcester Academy signed the Green Cup Pledge (see above page), which calls on people to practice GCC habits 365 days a year.

Below is a letter written to the school from the Environmental Club co-president, Ryan Barry:

Hey everyone,

The results are in for the final week of the Green Cup Challenge.
In the final week of the GCC, we achieved our goal of reducing energy use from our baseline, reducing by 1%. Great job, and thank you for making this happen. Please remember that although the Green Cup Challenge is over, our school is dedicated to becoming more environmentally sustainable, and we should continue to reduce energy use when possible. The Environmental Club looks at the GCC as a year round event, and we encourage the school to do this as well.
We have signed a Green Schools Climate Commitment, in which we pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2020, and we need everyone to help out to work towards this goal. Also remember that conserving energy and using alternative forms of energy reduces pollution, and improves the quality of our air, water, as well as our health.
So far, 70 people have signed the GCC pledge. Thank you to those who have already signed. Our first goal is to reach 100 pledges, and our next goal is to get everyone in the WA community to sign it. Please sign the pledge if you have not done so already.

http://sustainablewa.wordpress.com/green-cup-pledge/

Thank you,

Ryan Barry
Co-President of the Environmental Club

Green Cup Challenge 2008 Final Results and Impact

In perhaps a more authentic sense of competition 30 schools striving together for improvement in sustainable practices reduced their collective carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.1 million pounds in 28 days as measured by electricity reduction use alone. For data graphs click gcc2008graphs.doc

WA achieved a 9.8% reduction of electricity use, and finished 15th place (Heydon/Stoddard and the class of 2011 won the dorm and grade level competition, respectively). Shy of its 20% goal, it was a good effort for the school and a pivotal opportunity to begin profound sustainability culture on campus. The WA Environmental Club, lead by co-presidents Stephen Wright and Ryan Barry, is planning to host a film series addressing oil and climate change and a panel on the impact and improvement of WA’s transportation habits, while continuing to manage the school’s recycling and dining hall compost program, and orchestrating the CFL project (a bulb for every WA student and 1,000 bulbs distributed to the local community through a partnership with Oak Hill CDC). For more information on the GCC click on links to the right. Also click below for the WA 2008 GCC Videos.

GCC 2nd Place WA Video

GCC 1st Place WA Video

Worcester Academy Preps for Green Cup Challenge 2008

32 secondary schools across the east coast are following the precedent set by American College and University University Presidents Climate Commitment and the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement by agreeing to compete to decrease their electricity consumption, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and instill sustainability practices in campus culture. The Green Cup Challenge (GCC) began two years ago between 3 schools (Exeter, Lawrenceville, and Northfield Mount Hermon) and has exploded quickly. W.A., out to win the Cup, set an ambitious goal of a 20% reduction and is in the process of setting up workshops, lectures, film series, and dorm and grade-level competitions to meet this goal and move the school forward with a more sustainability culture. Stay tuned for more information about the GCC.