Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning at the Putney School

1. Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning at the Putney School A Case Study

2. Wake Up! Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon. This is not the wacky proclamation of a doomsday cult, apocalypse bible prophecy sect, or conspiracy theory society. Rather, it is the scientific conclusion of the best paid, most widely-respected geologists, physicists, and investment bankers in the world. Life After the Oil Crash �David Savinar

3. PEAK OIL

5. Denial�..

6. Big change is afoot�. PPPPP Will you lead or will you follow? Preparing and inspiring students to change the world is both a educational and global Imperative.

7. Putney School should be a leader in Education for Sustainability Mission/Philosophy Program Geography Marketing/ Fundraising

8. Mission--Ms. Hinton in 1935 �(We) wish to live adventurously though not recklessly, willing to take risks, if need be, for moral growth, so that one definitely progresses along the long slow road toward achieving a civilization worthy of the name. � Founder�s Statement Carmelita Hinton

9. Program 

10. Land use at Putney

11. Marketing and Fund Raising

12. Sustainability is on the Map Footprint class and projects Campus Mapping Project Ecological Design Project�the 50-year plan Biofuels Project Biodiversity Project (local and global 20/20) Local Food Project 4-season Greenhouse

13. Features of Putney�s Process Steering Committee included trustees, administration, students, faculty, and staff Envisioning occurred on campus 10-year plan Five Task Forces chaired by on-campus community members

14. The 2015 Strategic Plan Task Forces Educational Program Environmental Sustainability Faculty/Staff Life External Affairs Social Fabric

15. Strategic Plan Task ForceEnvironmental Sustainability Jim Taylor Plant Manager Hans Estrin Science Teacher Joe Holland Math Teacher Sue Brearey Art Teacher Jay Jenkins English Teacher Miles Chapin Student Zoe Weiner Student Bayley Switzer Student Melanie Maynard Student Blake Zahn History Teacher Randy Smith Business Manager Tad Montgomery Consultant (Ecological Engineer) George Heller Board Member and Architect

16. Task Force Process How in the world will we come up with a specific plan for the next ten years?

17. Directions from the Board Vision and Goals Time line Cost / Benefit of goals �..Cost? Payback Period?...hard to project

18. Vision Walk onto your campus in 2015�� Describe what you see (Facilities and programs)

19. Putney�s Educational Program Food Shelter Energy Land Stewardship

20. Food The work-job program is increasingly focused on food production. Garden acreage has expanded 20%. including season extension systems, dairy & vegetable processing. Putney is producing and purchasing over 75% of its food on campus or locally. The Kitchen is a central part of the educational program with its menu based on seasonal food production.

21. Shelter All new buildings are designed for solar gain & energy efficiency, maximizing use of student labor and local materials. All older buildings have been renovated for maximum energy efficiency & comfort. Outdated buildings have been replaced with contemporary designs. Evaluations will be done with an eye towards energy savings, obsolescence (identify & cut losses), & functioning of overall school ergonomics.

22. Energy The School is producing most, if not all of its own energy cost effectively. Alternative energy applications are present in all effective locations, including solar, wind, biodiesel, biogas, biomass, etc. Students are seen researching and developing many different bench-scale energy generation systems. The life cycle purchased energy is studied in classes and projects.

23. Multiply by 22�

24. Land Stewardship There is a net improvement in biodiversity on the 450-acre Campus. Forest health and soil fertility are achieved through student-centered monitoring and management plans. On the main Campus, sustainable permaculture design principles are demonstrated through plantings, environmental landscaping, and composting, ecological wastewater treatment systems

25. Task Force Process Whole Group (5 hours in three sessions) Vision Brainstorm Prioritize Organize Smaller Working Groups (4 hours in 3 sessions) Sub-goals Time line Cost benefit analysis Chair and Consultant (5 hours in 2 sessions) Final editing Formatting Report and addenda

27. The Draft Report Report of Environmental Sustainability Task Force Committee Revised DRAFT 1/2/06 PART 1 Environmental Sustainability Main Goal (within Education Task Force): The Putney School will become a world leader in education for environmental sustainability and a model eco-community. Introduction By 2015, The Putney School will be seen as a leader in education for sustainability. By integrating study and practical applications, Putney will educate and inspire its graduates to work and live with an eye towards the future of both the school and the world. True to its roots, Putney will educate through action and inspiration. The School will strive to become a visionary world citizen by understanding the origins of the resources we use, meeting our needs in a way that restores the land rather than depleting it, and by helping students and faculty to deepen our connections to the land and other life forms around us.

28. Sub Goal 1: The Putney School Facility Will Become a Model of Energy Conservation and Efficiency in a Way That Integrates Student-Centered Design, Construction and Innovation. Action: Finish the campus energy budget, one result to be a target for overall energy use ($35,000*,**, 1-yr.); (Addendum 3) Action: Finish the energy improvements and electricity conservation work. This assessment of each structure will focus on air tightness and building insulation ($200,000 already budgeted*,**, 1-5-yr.); Action: Develop a life cycle plan for all buildings on campus ($0, 1-yr.) (Addendum 4) Action: Develop a school green building code ($3,000*, 2-yr.); Action: Construct a model green building that will recycle all of its wastes, be net-zero in energy use, function simply and elegantly, and inspire the heck out of all visitors ($--Existing Capital Campaign*, 3-yr.); Action: Commence biodiesel production demonstration, research other biofuel applications ($3, 000 more **, 0-3 yr.).(Addendum 8) Action: Hire a part-time sustainability coordinator ($10-15, 000/year for 2 or more years, 1-3 years) Action: Install energy and resource * The costs of these items are still to be confirmed. ** Note that these items have a positive net cash flow over their lifetimes.

29. Ten Addenda..the Details Addendum #3: Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy Feasibility Study For The Putney School December 8th draft, 2005 The goal of this feasibility study would be to evaluate the potential and cost effectiveness of a number of different energy conservation and renewable energy measures for The Putney School, and to chart an optimal course for implementing them. Overarching goals might be for the campus to become climate neutral, a net exporter of energy, 75% energy self reliant, etc. Item Potential Contractor Amount 1) Campus Energy Budget (started) Global Resource Options $35,000 It is recommended that The Putney School start this feasibility study with a detailed analysis of the energy usage patterns of each individual structure and the campus as a whole. This is already underway to a large extent. The result would be a sub energy budget on a building by building basis, an overall campus energy budget, and a methodology for how to meet the present and future energy needs of the campus using renewable energy. This portion of the feasibility study might also explore the potential for the school to market �Green Tags�. 2) Building Envelope (started) Energy Images, Inc. $15,000(?) As a general rule, before renewable energy systems are considered comprehensive energy efficiency should be undertaken in order to reduce the energy demand. This is already underway, and the school should be commended for undertaking this work so thoroughly. An envelope assessment for each structure focusing on air tightness and building insulation is a critical first step in assessing the broader possibilities.

30. From The �Food� Addendum� Work Time One option- Summer- 4 X 2 week work crew (15 students/crew concurrent with summer program) one-time graduation requirement. (45 students/summer). Work crew divides farm, garden/processing, and woods work. Faculty work sessions on a volunteer basis or one/4 years. Fall/spring-- Two garden crews, Two small food processing crews (3-4 each). One option�All students (including sports) work one afternoon/week (or 2 weeks) on the farm (garden, farm, woods). Crews remain the same for the trimester. Thus, their could, for example, be 10 crews in two weeks. 20 students/crew TIME LINE: Short-term (0-3 years) Articulate farm plan details of staff, schedule, and facility based on strategic planning goals. Complete mapping project and forest inventory. Draft management plan. Expand Green growing season Begin to eat more seasonally with intention (KDU = classroom) Investigate the possibility of a local food service CSA. Market plan for admissions and development Mid term(4-7 years) Raise $ for Capital processing facilities (Dairy and Vegetable) Hire endowed staff (Burwin $?) Faculty development�train and �hire� a few faculty to work on farm Test drive summer work program Construction of processing facilities (Start?) Market new program to prospective students and donors

31. Addendum #7:Permaculture & Ecovillage Design at The Putney School Permaculture Defined Permaculture (from �perma�nent agri �culture� or �perma�nent �culture�) is a sustainable design system stressing the harmonious interrelationship of humans, plants, animals and the Earth. Permaculture has been described as a vision and a global network of people working to find and implement positive solutions to pressing problems. Permaculture delineates a number of sustainability principles that focus on thoughtful designs for small-scale, intensive systems that are labor efficient and use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is a design or a planning process to achieve harmonious connections and working relationships between all elements and stakeholders in a system. Each system component performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. The key to efficient design is observation and replication of natural ecosystems, where designers maximize robustness and diversity with complex polycultures, stress efficient energy planning for houses and settlements, use and accelerate natural plant succession and increase the highly productive �edge-zones� within a system. Permaculture is a positivistic response to the environmental crises facing modern society. It is about what we want to do and can do, rather than what we oppose and want others to change. This response is both ethical and pragmatic, both philosophical and technical. -- David Holmgren & Bill Mollison, co-founders

32. Next Steps Board Review�Prioritization (Done) Board Sub Groups Modify Taskforce Reports (Summer/fall, 2006) Board adopts final strategic plan (Spring 2007)

33. Teachable Moment�