Accomplishments

greenroof

The following is a partial list of actions RPCS has taken to reduce our carbon footprint over the past few years.

Building Design and Performance

  • Installed a 36.66 kW SOLAR photovoltaic array on the lower school roof
  • Built a LEED Gold certified athletic complex using recycled and locally sourced materials
  • Installed a GREEN ROOF over the fitness center with drought-tolerant, Bay friendly native plantings
  • Installed a white REFLECTIVE ROOF to keep the athletic complex cool in summers

Energy Conservation

  • Use heating and cooling equipment efficiently
  • Set thermostats to 68°F for heating in the winter and 73°F for air conditioning in the summer
  • Weatherized stairwell doors with door sweeps
  • Use a night-time/unoccupied mode temperature setting to save energy when not present that senses the outdoor temperature to determine start-up

Energy Conservation: IT policy

  • Encourage lap top users to fully charge battery at night and rely on battery during the day
  • Set monitors to use the minimum amount of power when inactive
  • Setting desktops to go to into hibernation when not in use
  • Utilizing virtualization to reduce the number of physical servers

Energy Efficiency: General

  • Commissioned new Athletic Complex to insure it was delivering performance and energy savings promised by its design.
  • Presently working to commission older parts of school to insure efficient performance to LEED standards
  • Invest in building energy management system with commissioning process
  • Enroll in demand side management program with BGE

Energy Efficiency: Lighting

  • Swap incandescent bulbs for CFLs and LEDs
  • Install high efficiency light fixtures with T-8 bulbs
  • Install occupancy sensors in classrooms and bathrooms
  • Reduce energy by using day-lighting whenever possible

Energy and Climate Change: Renewable Energy

  • 1% renewable energy from solar PV array
  • Calculate carbon footprint annually with assistance of 12th grade independent study student

Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Smoke-free campus
  • Clean filters on air handlers and air conditioners montly
  • Scrub-off mats by main entrances to reduce wet floors and tracking in dirt Food Service
  • Compost dining hall and kitchen waste and return to school gardens
  • Water bottle filling station to encourage use of reusable bottles
  • Reusable plates, and trays reduce trash going to landfill or incinerator
  • Compostable utensils, plates, clam shells, cups and bowls
  • Compostable wraps and containers for take-out food
  • No vending machines with soda or snack food
  • Waste oil collected and re-used in chemistry class bio-diesel project
  • Remaining waste oil collected by Valley Protein for recycling into biofuels

Green Cleaning

  • Joined Healthful Schools Partnership to protect health and the environment
  • Cleaning crew is trained to Green Seal GS-42 standard to meet US Green Building Council guidelines
  • Use Green Seal Certified Green Cleaning Supplies
  • Water ionizer used for general cleaning rather than multi-purpose cleaner

Site and Landscaping

  • Wildlife friendly habitats – butterfly garden, bird houses, Backwoods conservation easement
  • Compost yard waste
  • Erosion control plan
  • Increase native plantings whenever replace existing plants, or fallen trees
  • Student gardens grow vegetables, herbs and flowers and are integrated into science and nutrition program
  • All student gardens use compost and organic fertilizers and improved pest management – no pesticides or herbicides
  • Trees planted to reduce runoff and increase wildlife habitat

Water Conservation

  • Water filling stations throughout school encourage use of clean, filtered city water
  • Drip irrigation used in some student gardens
  • Motion-activated faucets in some bathrooms
  • Low-flow showers in athletic complex
  • Dual flush toilets and waterless urinals in athletic complex locker and bathrooms
  • Xeriscaping around athletic complex and new landscaping around the school grounds
  • Storm water management system in place and being updated
  • 10,000 gallon rainwater cistern stores water for heating and cooling processes and reduces our dependence on Baltimore City water supply

Transportation

  • Covered bike racks
  • Walk to School Day once a month
  • Car-pooling encouraged by providing zip code information to parents
  • Comfortable, safe, and reliable chauffeured bus service from 5 areas surrounding the school is used by many students
 

Healthy Living - sustaining the adult members of the school community

  • Healthy Living program for employees, facilitated by the school nurse, encourages healthy eating, exercise and weight control.
  • Fitness Center and Fitness Center Coordinator available to employees with classes, and personal fitness consults as well as open for use throughout the work day.