Fall/Winter 2010 - Pingry School

decreased energy consumption
by 32 percent. “We sacrificed
a plaque certifying that the
building is green, but we ensured
that the entire campus performs
better,” Mr. Virzi says.
He estimates that pursuing
LEED certification costs between
$50,000 and $100,000, which
pays for consultants, data
compilation, energy modeling,
and other fees, so Pingry has
to decide on a case by case
basis when that expenditure is
prudent. “Much of what we’ve
been doing counts toward LEED
credit, but we’re not going out
of our way to chase the certification.
We’re doing what makes
sense to make the buildings
green,” Mr. Virzi says.
Looking to the future, Pingry
continues to examine possibilities
for sustainability, such as
solar installations, green components
for the renovation or construction
of facilities, and green
products for daily campus operations.
All of this is in addition
to the evolving curriculum and
food service, as the school continues
to explore cost-saving
techniques and new avenues
for environmental education—
thereby ensuring a vibrant institution
and nurturing environmentally-mindful
students for
generations to come.
COMBINED CAMPUS CONSUMPTION TREND
MEASURED IN MMBTUs (1 MILLION BTU—BRITISH THERMAL UNIT)
MYTHS VS. REALITIES
OF GOING GREEN
MYTH: Going green costs more.
REALITY: It actually costs less, as
illustrated by the charts in this article.
MYTH: Sustainability is a stand-alone
topic, unrelated to the curriculum.
REALITY: Sustainability is related
to the curriculum because students need
to understand the connections between
each discipline and the environment. In
fact, Pingry is developing environmental
courses in which the natural world will
make a direct impact on the classroom.
MYTH: Sustainability simply means
“going green.”
REALITY: The topic is more comprehensive
than a single phrase—the community
needs to conserve and manage numerous
resources. “Sustainability is a nexus of
social, economic, and environmental
concerns,” says chemistry teacher Amy
Greenleaf.
MYTH: Green cleaning products are not
as effective as regular cleaning products.
REALITY: Based on Pingry’s experiences,
green cleaning products are equally effective,
if not more. For example, green
products do not leave any residue, which
is not the case with some regular cleaning
products.
MYTH: LEED-certified buildings are
always more energy-efficient than non-
LEED-certified buildings.
REALITY: LEED is not always the best
option for ensuring energy efficiency. For
example, Pingry increased the energy efficiency
of the Carol and Park B. Smith ’50
Middle School (which is not LEEDcertified)
by integrating its operating
systems with those of the main campus
buildings, rather than implementing new
systems specific to the Middle School.
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fall/winter 2010