Earth Summit 2016 Yields Environmental Friendly Campus

If Hamden Hall ever seeks to build a new sustainable, environmentally friendly campus, current Middle School students have undertaken the brunt of the work in terms of research, design, and planning via Earth Summit 2016.

Seven teams of students designed various school buildings, all of which incorporated LEED-certified standards and guidelines in the planning process in order to be resource efficient – the crux of the experiential learning project. The one-week endeavor, which coincided with Earth Day, consisted of guest speakers, field trips, homework assignments including a written journal, and model building.

A culminating press conference followed by judging of each building by three outside professionals confirmed the designs as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified on the final day of the Summit. Projects were judged on a 50-point system with four levels of certification. Platinum and gold levels were the highest attainable; four of the seven models were deemed platinum, while three received a gold ranking.

“The Earth Summit helps kids to connect with the idea of sustainability in a way that might impact their habits and decisions in the future,” explained Middle School Director Brian Christman. “Rather than focus on a one-day service project (which the Middle School does in connection with the New Haven Land Trust), we like the idea of developing a base of knowledge that will last beyond the observance of Earth Day.”

During the press conference, students expounded on their school buildings including details regarding sustainability – from using less water and energy to capturing natural lighting in the classrooms. Each team comprised two project managers and a series of student contractors.

“Each student will be expected to participate actively in research, planning, and construction tasks,” stated the written project overview.

In the science building, which was created by team Renewable Rhinos, sinks were programmed to be on a four-second motion sensor to stem the tide of excess water usage. Mr. Kohler’s Buddies team had an interesting marketing venture for their athletic facility. Camelbak bottles would be sold for $5 that could be refilled for free. Monies from the sale of the bottles would be used to pay for recycling costs.

Mrs. Richter’s Greenbeans Group created a circular-shaped library to better capture sunlight and incorporated bamboo floors and a wind turbine in the design. The Got Plants Group designed standing desks versus traditional sit-down versions in their Middle and Upper School classroom building to help students burn more calories and be more productive, while the Little Schoolers Lower School team utilized run-off water from a man-made hill for irrigation purposes and other tap water needs.

The Middle School has conducted Earth Summits in the past; however, the school campus idea as proposed by science teachers Beth Richter and Dave Bennett trumped the former task of designing a sustainable city, according to Mr. Christman. Grandparent (and environmental guru!) Richard Chiaramonte stepped up to lend a hand to the project as did parent Melissa Goodall, the Associate Director of the Yale Office of Sustainability, who gave the keynote speech and arranged Yale site visits for students. Other assistance came from parents Fernando Pastor and Anibal Bellomio and judges Peter Coombs of Essex and Karen Patriquin of New Haven - all of whom are architects.