The majority of HHS’s building energy is associated with burning woodchips to provide area and water heating. Currently, woodchips that are purchased by HHS are not certified sustainable, meaning the woodchips are not sourced from a forest that has been certified to be well-managed. If woodchips purchased by HHS were certified sustainable, all GHG emissions associated with the school’s burner would be effectively eliminated. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an example of an independent, non-profit organization that accredits wood suppliers as certified sustainable. FSC’s goal is to protect forests for future generations.

HHS has a signed contract with a woodchip provider that expires July 1, 2019. HHS should renegotiate a contract with a woodchip provider that offers FSC-certified sustainable woodchips.

Co-Benefits
By using FSC-certified sustainable woodchips, HHS can support healthy forest management that conserves biological diversity, water resources, soils, unique ecosystems, and landscapes.

Anticipated GHG Reduction
2025: 1,200 MTCO2e/year
2050: 1,200 MTCO2e/year

An air-to-air heat pump can provide both heating and cooling, is significantly more efficient than our heating system, and does not require combustion. About half of the GHG emissions that are produced at HHS come from burning woodchips for heat. Reducing combustion of woodchips by using heat pumps will reduce our GHG emissions. In addition, these units are extremely energy efficient and could be powered by on-site solar panels.

Co-Benefits
Many of the heating units at HHS need to be replaced (either now or in the near future). This investment will reduce HHS's electric bill. Furthermore, this will help stabilize the temperature in the building, which will increase comfort for both staff and students.

Improved insulation in the building would reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the interior of the building. Energy conservation would mean less GHGs emitted from the heating system. Insulated windows reduce the amount of energy needed to heat a building.

Co-Benefits
Improved insulation would bring economic co-benefits because (after installation) the heat would remain inside, thus lowering the need for continuous heating and energy. Insulated windows can reduce exterior noise from reaching the inside of buildings. While providing noise reduction, insulated windows will also lower the amount of money the school spends on heating and cooling the building. Since less wood will be burned in the HHS heating plant, the school will consume and require less wood to be transported to HHS, thus decreasing the school's carbon footprint.

There are currently many old refrigerators located in classrooms and offices throughout the school. Purchasing EnergyStar®-rated appliances will reduce GHG emissions because they reduce power plant emissions. Major home appliances account for about one-fifth of the energy-related GHG emissions in the U.S. Most EnergyStar®-rated appliances use about half the energy of conventional appliances.

Co-Benefits
Buying an energy efficient appliance reduces the tax associated with purchasing the appliance. Although these EnergyStar®-rated items may be slightly more expensive when you purchase them, it will lower the electricity bill because it uses less energy.

HHS should hire an energy services company to perform a building energy audit and to identify potential energy savings through efficiency measures.

Co-Benefits
Building energy efficiency savings through measures identified in the audit would reduce costs associated with building operation and maintenance.

Replacing fluorescent bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) lights would decrease GHG emissions, because LEDs are 40 to 50 percent efficient, whereas the fluorescent light bulbs currently installed are about 20 percent efficient (DIAL 2016). LED bulbs typically last 15 to 25 years whereas fluorescent bulbs typically last about 10 years (NRDC n.d.).

Co-Benefits
Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and a phosphor coating, both of which are considered hazardous waste. Fluorescent lights age significantly if they are frequently switched on and off (Stouch Lighting 2019). The light produced by LEDs has been shown to improve concentration, motivation, and mood.

Generating renewable electricity on-site would reduce and maybe even eliminate HHS's reliance on fossil fuels. If a solar photovoltaic system of 625 kilowatts (approximately 42,000 square feet or one acre) was installed to provide electricity to HHS, all GHG emissions associated with electricity generation would effectively be eliminated.

Co-Benefits
Economic co-benefits because we wouldn't need to pay for [as much] municipal power.

Anticipated GHG Reduction
2025: 193 MTCO2e/year
2050: 193 MTCO2e/year

With net metering, the school would have solar panels that could produce surplus energy during the day, but the school would also be able to pull energy from the power grid at night when the solar panels were not producing energy. This means that the school could benefit from the power grid but would not need to rely on the grid completely. The school would consume less electricity and would be more self-sufficient, thus lowering the emission of GHGs.

Co-Benefits
Because the school would be producing more of its own energy, the electricity bill would be less expensive. If the school was able to produce surplus energy, the energy could be sold back to the power company or donated to low income residents who cannot afford to pay for electricity.

Currently, the majority of our paper towels are sent to the landfill, and landfills are a source of GHG emissions. Composting paper towels will not only recycle carbon into bioavailable forms; it will also reduce the amount of waste, thus decreasing the amount of GHGs produced.

Co-Benefits
Composting paper towels could provide a source of fertilizer for future food growth, as well as reduce the weight of HHS waste, and therefore the cost, of hauling trash to the landfill.

Waste in the landfill releases GHG as they decompose anaerobically. HHS has recycling and compost to reduce this effect. Without education for staff and students, these systems become underutilized, and trash ends up in the recycling or compost receptacles.

Co-Benefits
Working as a school to compost and recycle brings the school community together. By reducing the school's trash, the school may save money depending on the specific costs of recycling, composting, and trash disposal at the time.

Anticipated GHG Reduction
2025: 3 MTCO2e/year
2050: 3 MTCO2e/year

Electric vehicles (EVs) reduce reliance on fossil fuels by using electricity to power the vehicle. Reducing fossil fuel consumption improves energy independence and energy security. Electricity can be generated from renewable sources such as solar photovoltaics or wind turbines. If electricity is sourced entirely from renewables, there are effectively no GHG emissions associated with driving EVs.

Co-Benefits
There are economic co-benefits because renewable energy is free (after installation of the infrastructure). There are also air quality and public health benefits to driving EVs because there is no tailpipe releasing emissions of pollutants.

Carpooling reduces the number of vehicles used on a daily basis. Each vehicle releases an amount of GHGs, starting from the construction of the vehicle, to when it is being operated on the road ways. The less vehicles being driven, the less GHGs emitted. Having an incentive for students to carpool will not only help lower GHG emissions by the school, but also create sustainable methods that can be passed on to future generations. An incentive to carpool could be to offer a free parking pass to those who carpool with a total of three students.

By carpooling to school, HHS can cut down the amount of GHG being released into the atmosphere. As shown in Figure 5, 28.5 percent of the U.S.’s GHG emissions comes from transportation, resulting in approximately 200 million MTCO2e in 2016. If half the number of cars were driven to HHS every day but students or staff, that would have a significant impact on the rate at which GHGs are being emitted.

Co-Benefits
A co-benefit of carpooling is an economic gain. Since driving requires gas and gas requires money, people who carpool will save a significant amount of money by not paying for gas. This would provide improved air quality, reduced traffic congestion, and reduced commute times. The cost of road repairs and gas money spent would be reduced. Also, the amount of money that is spent on a car or parking passes could be shared among students, which would result in more parking spaces available. Through this action, we would also create a more cohesive community.

Encouraging students and staff to bike to school would decrease reliance on cars and buses which emit GHGs. A bike shelter could also include a solar-powered charging station for electric bikes.

Co-Benefits
Encouraging biking for students and staff would encourage exercising which is a health benefit. By reducing use of vehicles on the way to and from school, the morning traffic would be reduced, thereby decreasing emissions from idling cars and reduce traffic congestion.

A school bus system that is efficient and accessible will decrease the number of vehicles driven to school. This will reduce the number of cars commuting into Hanover. Having an efficient school bus system means having the fewest number of school buses possible to pick up students.

Co-Benefits
The price of fossil fuels will continue rising so the sooner we can reduce our reliance on them the more money and ghg emissions we can save. A more efficient school bus system will also benefit the social environment of the school because there will be an increase in the number of students that ride school buses, and therefore they will have a time to bond and make new friends. It will also cut down on traffic for commuters.

School buses relying on biodiesel (or other renewable diesels) will reduce GHG emissions because they are not a fossil carbon-based fuel. School buses running on biodiesel would also allow for soaps, oils, beauty products, and alcohols to be repurposed instead of wasted.

Co-Benefits
There are economic, social, and environmental co-benefits to using biodiesel fuel in school buses. In terms of economic benefits, once a streamlined system is established to create and pump the biodiesel, the ingredients of the biodiesel are much cheaper than the cost of diesel. Also, using biofuel would begin to reduce the U.S.’s reliance on fossil fuels. Less tax money would be allocated to protecting our oil supplies overseas. This money could instead be diverted to develop local biofuel initiatives. Environmentally, soap, beauty products, and cooking oil can be easily acquired through partnerships with hotel or restaurant industries who are looking to repurpose/recycle some of their waste. Also, making biodiesel is significantly less energy-intensive than refining gasoline and diesel. Socially, there are air quality and public health benefits that result from using biodiesel instead of fossil fuels.

Anticipated GHG Reduction
2025: 766 MTCO2e/year
2050: 766 MTCO2e/year

Electric school buses would significantly decrease fossil fuel emissions by switching energy from diesel fuel to electricity. The buses could be charged at solar-powered charging stations to eliminate GHG emissions associated with school buses.

Co-Benefits
Electric buses require less maintenance as there are fewer parts than an internal combustion engine. They are quieter, and do not release harmful gases and particulates into the atmosphere. Also, it protects the community from the risk of global oil price hikes.

Bike and ski racks on school buses would encourage more students to ride the bus, instead of using their own cars. Some students may drive themselves to school because they cannot take their equipment on the bus. Bike racks could also encourage students to bike to their bus stop, instead of driving to their bus stop. More students riding the buses would reduce GHG emissions and fossil fuel consumption because they would not be driving their own fuel-consuming vehicles.

Co-Benefits
More students riding the bus could result in more available parking spaces, which could be used for EV charging stations. Students could bring their bike to school in the morning on the bus when it is cool, but bike home in the afternoon when it is warmer.

Use of locally-grown food from small farms in lieu of food produced on large scale industrial farms will decrease the amount of GHGs associated with production and transport of food to the school. For example, synthesis of chemical fertilizers used in conventional agriculture requires significant amounts of fossil fuels. It will also decrease the fuel needed to transport food to the school.

Co-Benefits
Conventional agriculture uses chemical pesticides which can harm pollinators, and the health of many other organisms, including humans. Chemical fertilizers can runoff into local waterways causing eutrophication. By offering locally-produced food in the cafeteria, HHS can support farmers that employ sustainable farming practices. Buying locally-grown food can also help grow the local economy by supporting small-scale farms.

Currently, compostable cutlery and dishes are used in the Cafe, but unfortunately is not accepted by the compost company employed by HHS and is therefore sent to the landfill. Using a dishwasher to wash reusable dishes and utensils would reduce the waste HHS is sending to the landfill and therefore reduce GHG emissions. An alternative to purchasing reusable cutlery would be to find a compost company that takes compostable cutlery.

Co-Benefits
A co-benefit of using reusable dishes/cutlery is financial savings from a decreased purchasing demand. Additionally, there will be less waste in the landfills. Reusable materials in the Cafe are more pleasant to eat with and will encourage students to set aside time for lunch, thus building community. The sales from the Cafe will increase as well when students feel morally better about supporting their business.

Creating a CAP team of students committed to this project within the Environmental Club that can work with B&G, the school’s administration, and the Dresden School Board to implement the CAP for HHS is critical. Monthly meetings with a representative from each of these groups will help ensure effective communication, provide an opportunity to discuss effective strategies for implementing the CAP, and will also build community.

Co-Benefits
The co-benefits of the creation of this team include raising awareness of the urgency of addressing climate change in our own community. Further, students will learn that they can reduce their own carbon footprint by making small changes in their own behavior and thereby contribute to the success of the CAP.

Include the word “action” in HHS mission statement such that it reads: "action to reduce HHS GHG emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change."

Incorporating "action" in the HHS mission statement will highlight the importance of implementing this CAP. Similar to the emphasis on minds, heart, and voices, this would reinforce the school's commitment to addressing climate change.

Co-Benefits
Students will be more motivated to lead and participate in GHG reduction measures.