EIC has been instrumental in the inclusion of green elements in the upcoming school renovations. These elements include a solar water heater; rainwater cisterns for bathroom water use; ultra low flow toilets, urinals, and faucets; extremely efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting systems; increased natural lighting including by solar tubes; and an interactive display of the school's energy use. We are excited to see what impact the renovations have on TJ’s resource usage and we hope to keep our energy consumption at or below our current levels.
Clean Energy Initiative
The Clean Energy Initiative strives to both conserve non-renewable energy sources and explore the feasibility of renewable ones. The committee hosts school wide Power Down Days, in which students and administrators alike are encouraged to reduce the electrical usage for the duration of the school day. Also, CEI has negotiated with engineers and architects to use environmentally safe materials in the construction of the new school building and works with teachers to reduce their carbon footprints. As for renewable energy, the committee convinced Thomas Jefferson High School to add solar panels to the school roof to provide a clean energy source to several senior tech labs. In addition, the Clean Energy Initiative plans to take its environmental aspirations outside of the school to partner with other schools, non-profit organizations and government departments in the future. CEI wants to make a difference by limiting human impact on the environment.
Future Energy Action Team
Our goal is to spread awareness of global environmental issues (such as deforestation from palm oil, plastics in oceans, and increased carbon emissions) to the TJ and global community by making and using Youtube videos, Twitter, Facebook, websites, mobile apps, and other social media sites. Because of the recent advent of social media and mobile apps, we would like to use these technologies to raise global awareness of environmental issues and mobilize the public to take action through petitions, education, and global protests. We also run the Annual Carbon Footprint Competition, which encourages members of the TJ community to reduce their carbon footprint.
Recycled Paper
The main goal of the Recycled Paper committee is to switch the copy paper used at TJHSST consisting of no recycled content to paper made with 30% post-consumer content. Recently, we conducted a preliminary school-wide trial run of using 30% post-consumer content recycled paper in the hopes of making the permanent jump to partially recycled paper next school year. We also want to spread the use of this recycled paper to other schools.
Remineralization
The Remineralization Committee strives to promote publicity and research of an environmental technique called remineralization, which has been linked as a potential antidote for many of Earth’s environmental problems, including global warming and deforestation.
Water Quality
We started the Water Quality Committee as a project to encourage students and faculty to use our aluminum, reusable water bottles rather than trash-generating disposable ones. Since then, we have partnered with the Water Resources Action Project, a non-profit organization focused on the Middle East to help students there protect their precious water resources.
Reusable Trays
We have implemented a reusable trays program so that students have the opportunity to produce less waste during lunchtime. Every Wednesday during lunch, we set out reusable trays rather than the classic Styrofoam kind. We are currently trying to expand this program across more days of the week, obtain more trays, and find an efficient way to wash them.