Eco-Friendly

Local Schools Top EPA Green Power Partner List

As if we weren’t already bursting our buttons in pride over the high quality schools in the DC metro area, several area schools were just recognized by the EPA for their renewable energy purchases through the Green Power Partnership program.

Four 100% Clean Currents powered schools graced the top 20 K-12 list: Bullis School, Norwood School, Maret School, and Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy. Beyond their commitment to renewable energy, here’s a bit about why we love them:

Bullis School

Bullis School is an independent, co-educational school in Potomac, MD.  Educating students in grades 3-12, its mission is to provide a balanced academic, artistic, athletic and community service experience. Bullis’ vision to prepare students to be ‘caring citizens and critical thinkers’ is apparent in its green principles.

Bullis’ sustainability programs include: 100% of the school’s power is offset by wind power or is derived from its 110kw solar electric system;   an on-campus community garden providing organic food for school lunches; participation in the annual Green Cup Recycling Challenge.  In 2011, Bullis was recognized as one of seven Green Award Winners by Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Green for promoting and implementing green practices on campus.

Norwood School

Norwood School is also a co-educational school and is located in Bethesda, MD.  Norwood educates students in grades k-8.  The school’s first and foremost philosophy is to create a happy place for students to learn and feel supported and is very much alive in the school’s daily teaching practices.

The school has made it a priority to be stewards of the earth and to educate its students to be more conscious of their impact on the environment.  Norwood is offset by 100% wind power credits and has taken numerous steps to reduce its waste and energy consumption on campus.  Norwood’s green initiatives are led by the Green Initiative Task Force, made up of faculty, staff, parents and students, and the student-led organization, The Green Hawks.

Maret School

The Maret School, set in the historic heart of Washington, DC, was founded by three immigrant sisters in 1911. Stemming from this unique and remarkable start, Maret seeks to instill a sense of energy, imagination, and entrepreneurial spirit in all its students. The school also incorporates innovative educational techniques that integrate real world experiences into classroom instruction, thereby broadening the scope of each child’s experience. Integrity, connectedness, excellence, respect, and a balance of independence and collaboration are among the core values that the Maret School upholds.

Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy

The Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, founded in 1944, provides a comprehensive Jewish and general education in an atmosphere of reverence, good citizenship, and love of the Jewish people and Israel. In partnership with the community, MJBHA strives to continue this journey, shaping a future for our students that is filled with purpose, accomplishment, caring and commitment to Jewish life and Jewish values.

The Academy sources renewable energy from wind power and from on site solar panels. “The school reduced its energy costs by 25 percent in FY2012 compared to the previous year under these green power arrangements, making additional funds available for education.  While some of that savings may have been attributable to a milder winter, our investment in clean, green power helped reduce costs significantly,” said Dr. Joshua Levisohn, MJBHA Headmaster.

This piece would be incomplete without a mention of MOM’s Organic Market, ranked #18 on the Top 20 Retail list. MOM’s purchases green power for 424% of their energy use, making them true wind power rock stars.

Clean Currents powers the 2nd most EPA Green Power Partners — 213! And, we were only 5 away from being named #1. All in all, over 1,400 green power partners — businesses, schools, universities, government, retail, etc. — are using more than 27 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually.  These companies, institutions, and organizations are literally powering the growth of renewable energy in the US.