People for Environmental Protection(PEP), is already looking at specific changes they wish to see in the Upper School, more specifically, the Schilling Center for math and science opening in 2018. The student club is currently researching cost efficient and environmentally friendly ways to improve the Schilling Center plan.

Co-President and senior Maya Kachian describes this process as being a step forward in local environmental protection. “With the giant leaps we’ve taken in the last fifty years in green technology, we could be doing a lot to protect the environment on a local scale. We want to suggest ways that the Schilling center can protect the Earth knowing how big of an impact a school can have on the environment and ecosystems that surround it,” she said.

PEP plans to further composting and waste initiatives to lessen the amount of waste SPA produces as a whole. In addition to this, PEP seeks to tint the Schilling center windows to help regulate heat transfer, add energy-efficient light bulbs to reduce the waste of energy, and put an emphasis on adding more water-efficient systems.

“Clean water is a resource we need to conserve. Low flow toilets can save 25 gallons a day, just for the average American household (2-3 people). Imagine the impact we could have on our school if we utilized water-efficient toilets and sinks in the Schilling center,” Kachian said.

The importance of environmental protection on a local scale goes beyond schools. Students can easily help the environment by performing simple acts such as composting and recycling conscientiously, reducing the amount of meat they consume, and being mindful about shower and makeup brands.

 “Take composting and recycling seriously. Be conscious of what you throw away. Maintenance sifts through trash and composting at the end of the day to filter all of the things we threw away incorrectly, and they shouldn’t have to. Secondly, the livestock we eat produce greenhouse gases that wear out our ozone layer and create global warming. Students don’t need to cut meat out entirely; limiting it even a little changes a lot. Finally, make sure your makeup and shower brands are eco-conscious,” Kachian said.

With all this taken into consideration, SPA can become a community that fosters a strong sense of environmentalism and creates a more energy-efficient school.