The annual Green Cup Challenge™ kicks off January 18 and Taft is ready to rumble. Launched in 2006 as an interschool energy challenge between Exeter, NMH and Lawrenceville, the Green Cup Challenge™ is designed to raise awareness about energy conservation and climate change. It creates hands-on learning opportunities about the environment, and raises awareness about resource conservation and the role each person plays in creating a sustainable future.
Last year, more than 100 public, private, day and boarding schools from around the country competed in the challenge. Taft was one of 41 schools entered in the Northeast Boarding category, ultimately won by the Winchendon School. Winchendon reduced their energy use by a remarkable 22.5% during the four-week challenge period. Millbrook finished second in the Northeast Boarding category, while South Kent and Hotchkiss tied for third.
“Fun and engaging competitions like the Green Cup Challenge™ offer students a chance for to participate in a nationwide effort to take steps towards mitigating the impacts of climate change,” explained Peter Saltsman, Director of Environmental Studies and Stewardship at Taft. “While most schools recognize infrastructure improvements as a mechanism for increasing resource efficiency, changing building occupants’ behavior is just as critical. At Taft, we will strive to raise awareness about efficiency while doing our best in this friendly competition between dormitories, buildings, and schools. Students and staff across the campus will be working together to economize our energy use and have fun in the process.”
The Green Cup Challenge™ takes place each winter to call attention to the peak periods for energy usage. This year’s event runs through February 15. The goal is for all participating schools to work collectively to achieve a measurable, aggregated electrical energy reduction. Last year, participating schools reduced their electricity consumption by an average of 4.5% from the baseline. That means a total reduction of 1,036,816 kWh from their electric bills and 1,396,038 lbs of CO2 that was not released into the atmosphere from power plants.