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North Cross School has announced a program to reduce the school's carbon footprint. Here's the full release from the school:

North Cross School students and their families, along with the faculty and staff, have embarked on an ambitious effort this year to reduce the School’s carbon footprint and increase sustainability by “going green.”

“As a school, NCS has twin roles: first and foremost, to educate young people so they can live the fullest, most successful lives possible. Secondly, to be examples to the communities of which they are a part,” said Headmaster Timothy J. Seeley. “Efforts to be better stewards of the resources we use and to encourage students to be as thoughtful and discriminating as possible serve both ends. While a monetary savings may be realized from some aspects of these initiatives, others may cost a bit more. But the primary reason behind these efforts is that it’s just the right thing to do.”

Appointed by Seeley, Spanish Teacher and Community Service Director Malcolm Douglas is spearheading the effort as the chair of the School’s newly formed Environmental Action Committee (EAC). The committee began its work over the summer and has developed an extensive plan that involves the entire School community and focuses the School’s energies on a coordinated program. The program has three components: recycling, energy conservation, and education.

In addition to the EAC, three student groups are helping to run the program: SAVE (Students Actively Volunteering for the Environment), the middle school Environmental Club, and the lower school SCA.

"The SAVE organization gets students excited about going green and informs us of the little changes we can make that can help our environment in big ways," said Reagan Robey ’11, a member of SAVE.

One of the first changes the School made in its efforts to “go green” was the transition to environmentally friendly supplies and materials across campus – in classrooms, common spaces, and the Lemon Dining Hall. Additionally, recycling containers are now located in dozens of places across campus.

Under the leadership of former Director of Information Technology, Ray Baughman, the School has programmed energy conserving programs into all campus computers, and faculty and staff have been advised to turn off monitors nightly and shut down computers completely each weekend.
The Athletic Department, thanks to the diligence of Athletic Director Donna Satterwhite, has doubled up off-campus game schedules to reduce the number of miles buses travel.

Dr. Anthony Curtis’ Advanced Placement Environmental Science class continues to lead an on-campus paper recycling project in all campus buildings.

On Nov. 13, Seeley challenged the entire School to reduce the amount of electricity and natural gas consumed by 10 percent between the first day of the Winter term, Dec. 2, and the last day of April. The results of the “Headmaster’s Challenge” will be announced at the School’s Field Day festivities on Sat., May 9. Other elements of the challenge include reducing the amount of solid waste sent to landfills and instituting school-wide “Grey Days,” in which a concerted effort to turn off unneeded lights will be encouraged. Also on the horizon is a composting program in the Lemon Dining Hall, run by middle school students.

"I hope the ‘Headmaster’s Challenge’ will encourage students to become actively involved in saving energy,” said SAVE member Mary Stuart Carter ’09.

Adding to the educational component to the program, the lower, middle, and upper school each have a special “Green Board,” where energy use, solid waste and recycling numbers is posted, and information about energy issues and programs is displayed. The Boards will be maintained by the student groups involved.