Home > About > Board of Trustees > Green Committee
Green Committee
For news on green initiatives happening at MPH, click here!
MPH Green Committee
Formed in 2008, Manlius Pebble Hill’s Green Committee became a standing committee of the Board of Trustees in 2009. It is comprised of parents, students, administrators, trustees, and teachers with a strong interest in the environment, as well as members of the local community with expertise in food service and sustainability.
Green Committee Mission Statement
The Green Committee seeks to help facilitate the coordination of Manlius Pebble Hill School’s existing environmental initiatives and to promote further steps toward sustainability and environmental stewardship. The committee encourages a school-wide culture of responsible environmentalism within academic and co-curricular programs, as well as in the general operations of the school. It is our ultimate goal to help in creating a healthy and sustainable school for current and future generations through education, community outreach, and sustainable practices.
Environmental Stewardship Commitment Statement
As an institution dedicated to educating future citizens and leaders, Manlius Pebble Hill School is committed to demonstrating environmental stewardship and to developing environmentally responsible behavior among all members of its community. Students, faculty, and staff are involved in efforts to reduce waste, promote recycling, decrease fossil fuel consumption, and choose low-impact products including local and organic food. We do this not only to minimize our environmental impact, but also so that we can all learn by experience and teach by example. In classroom and co-curricular activities, our students learn about natural systems, the human systems that depend on them, and how our actions affect other people and the environment. Their ability to critically evaluate the environmental impact of individual and institutional decisions will magnify the effect of these efforts as our students move beyond MPH. Through these initiatives, MPH strives to be a model of environmental stewardship in the Central New York community.
How We’re Moving Toward a “Greener” MPH
- In 2008, MPH began using 100% recycled napkins in the dining hall.
- In 2008-2009, 1,613 lessons relating to environmental stewardship and the ethic of sustainability were taught at MPH. By 2014, we hope to increase that number by 5%.
- MPH has partnered with a certified organic farm to bring our students more fresh, locally-grown produce. Farmer Jamie Edelstein has been a “Green Rock Star” at special lunchtime learning sessions highlighting his organic produce. You can learn more about his farm at www.wylliefoxfarm.com.
- MPH has received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) to install solar panels on the roof of the Bradlee Building. Look for a “Green Celebration” when we unveil the panels in the spring of 2011.
- MPH is using measurable objectives to monitor our environmentally sustainable practices. By 2014, we aim to increase our “green” cleaning products by 25%, increase our energy and resource efficient fixtures by 30%, decrease our white copy paper usage by 15%, and increase our post-consumer recycled materials purchases by 40%.
- MPH celebrated its first annual “Green Week” in the spring of 2010. Activities included the collection of plastic bags for recycling and special class projects at Green Lakes State Park.
Green Links:
Information about bottled water
