Introducing Tupper Lake’s “coolest” BRIGHT idea… The Green Team

We are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint in our little neck of the woods.

What is a “carbon footprint?” This is the amount of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) that is released into the atmosphere by a person, a household, a school or a company. These greenhouse gases trap heat and raise the earth’s temperature.

Almost everything we do contributes to our carbon footprint. This includes turning on lights, heating our homes and school, and having parents drive you to a soccer game, after-school activities or even to school.

Some things we learned at the first ADK Youth Climate Summit in 2009… Human-induced climate change is having and will have profound effects on life on Earth.

We learned that pre-industrial carbon emissions (measured in parts per million), were 280 ppm. We are now at 390 ppm – TOO much for sustainable development. WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the following generations.

Our Green Team was recognized by international artist/author Schim Schimmel…. He and his publisher gave us permission to use the images and text from his book, Dear Children of the Earth, for our school’s Earth Day presentation.

This artist also sent each Green Team member a signed copy of his latest book, The Butterfly’s Treasure, along with a numbered, minted hand painted coin.

Two weeks after the Summit, our Green Team made its debut at Open House We passed out CFL’s and an information sheet for parents to encourage them to reduce their carbon footprint, save energy and money too!

On we joined the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake Environmental Clubs for a Pancake Fundraiser and became part of a global work party to raise awareness about climate change.

Our work party activities at the Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid included building a 3-bin compost system…

Recycling thousands of cans and bottles…

Making old T-shirts into reusable tote bags…

And creating a sign for the school garden

Our Green Team has doubled its members this year!

Shaheen’s Motel learned about our involvement with the tri-lakes schools for and sent us a $50 donation. They invited us to participate in their solar panel installation. This was a great collaboration of school, community and what happens at The Wild Center!

This year our students became part of the Tri-Lakes steering committee to plan and facilitate the 2 nd Youth Summit at The Wild Center on Nov. 9 th and 10 th.

We presented our school’s Green Team at an open space forum and learned what other schools are doing to reduce their carbon footprint to save money and energy.

We attended a workshop presented by Finland and learned how they are reducing their CO2 emissions in schools and transportation.

The students brainstormed ways to make the school bus “cooler” so more students would take the bus instead of driving. 90% of Lake Placid’s carbon emissions come from students and faculty driving to school. Ours is similar.

Creating our Tupper Lake Climate Action Plan

We compiled a list of energy/carbon footprint questions to ask our administration. Ask Administration: 1. “Love Your Earth” Dance (make/recycle attire) 2. Waste Management Where does it go? What does it cost? Recycled paper-Where does it go? What does it cost? Casella ZERO sort recycle company 3. Motion sensors for lights in all classrooms, bathrooms, etc. 4. Hallway lights on from 3pm til ????? Can we install switches so that every other light is turned on while the building is being cleaned, sports practices, etc. What time are the lights turned off completely for the night? 5. We’d like a 3rd recycle bin for plastic bottles in all classrooms, etc. 6. Do a study for 2-4 weeks at LPQ to evaluate how much waste is happening in the cafeteria in hopes of beginning composting so they will know the drill when they get to the HS. 7. Recycle education for faculty and custodial staff. We need to do a better job. Also-energy education for staff regarding turning lights off, computers, etc. 8. Volunteer students in each class to check recycle/garbage bins. 9. Create a “green” planted roof on our flat school buildings. 10. “Kill-a-watt” study on various energy uses throughout the buildings. 11. Students driving to school is our biggest carbon emission source. How can we make our buses “cooler” so students will take the bus. Take a survey. Create incentives for students to take the bus or carpool. Encourage teachers/staff to carpool. 12. Can we access the district’s electricity bill for a comparison/reduction/evaluation? 13. Can we get locally grown food into school lunches? 14. Spider plants in every classroom to promote better air quality.

Some of our future plans … Green team members will check recycle bins in every classroom at the end of the day. Step up recycling in our school cafeterias. Build a compost bin at LPQ. Install motion sensors in all classrooms, bathrooms, etc. Visit a solar farm and recycling center. Design a logo and make our own T-shirts. Have a LOVE YOUR EARTH Dance wearing only “recycled” attire.

One thing we planned was to distribute spider plants to classrooms to improve air quality. Happy Valentine’s Day from the Green Team!

Green Team encouraged our district to study Casella’s Zero-Sort program which we learned about at the Summit. In February our district signed a contract with Casella, which resulted in the LOWEST 3-yr cost during school months. Additional savings were achieved in man-hours and fuel consumption.

Our superintendent commissioned the Green Team to organize, direct and implement education regarding our new recycling program for all students, faculty and staff.

The entire elementary school was involved in this presentation. Green Team also presented to the HS faculty, and 2 days before Earth Day Green Team members presented to students during their science classes.

April 2, 2011 Green Team hosted a Love Your Earth Dance with “recycled attire”, either homemade or via a dress swap to REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE.

Samantha won 1 st place!

Remember… What can just ONE person do? One person’s share!