Sustainability Report APRIL 2013
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.� Native American Proverb
A Sustainable Journey: A Report on Energy Conservation and Curriculum Development at IAA B Y JOHN R. NEWMAN, DEAN OF STUDENTS AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
The Idyllwild Arts Foundation has a rich tradition of caring for the environment. The school has incorporated environmental studies into its arts and academic curricula since its earliest days as Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA). We are very fortunate to live in beautiful Idyllwild, California, where we see reminders every day of the importance of taking care of ourselves and our surroundings. Idyllwild Arts’ commitment to environmental education took form in the early 1950’s, with “workshops designed for teachers, group leaders and laymen interested in the problems of the use of natural resources and wise use of the out-of-doors. Students had a choice of working on the campus or spending the week camping in the wilderness in the mountains above Idyllwild, exploring and studying this primitive area. A Field Nature Study was devoted to the examination of the natural history of a specific territory” (Helen Bell, The ISOMATA Story 1946-1967). We are pleased to carry on this tradition of care and creative examination of the world we share at Idyllwild Arts. This report highlights some of the work we have done over the past year and a half to help sustain our resources, both natural and economic, and to help shape our students’ awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship.
Our Vision: With education as our first priority, and recognizing the ongoing, intergenerational nature of sustainability, Idyllwild Arts staff will continue to work collaboratively to establish learning opportunities that are brought to life by faculty and students, and supported by physical spaces and operational decisions.
Our Commitment: We seek to balance educational, financial, and environmental priorities in our daily operations, and to incorporate relevant aspects of sustainability in future policies. We hope to inspire commitment to these policies among all students and employees. We wish to serve as a community leader in sustainability and to partner with other organizations to further common goals.
Our Accomplishments: As a school, we have explored ways we can improve our daily operations, as well as our arts, academic, and student life programs by focusing on principles of sustainable living. We have discovered in our recent work that sustainability is a rallying cry for community; it is an opportunity for us to come together to share ideas and experiences that keep us connected.
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait ‘til oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” Thomas Edison, scientist, inventor (1847-1931)
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Sustainability Report 2011-2013 “The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.” Frank Lloyd Wright, architect (1867-1959)
We have accomplished many of our goals for campus sustainability during the 2011-2013 school years. At the midway point of FY 13, we continue to see signs of continued energy savings that are partly attributable to conservation efforts, new technologies, and education. From a purely financial standpoint, we saved $72 thousand on our utilities expenses in FY12, an approximately 12% savings from the previous year. As of December 31, 2012, the half-way mark of our fiscal calendar, we are trending at 88% of our year-to-date budget for electricity; 95% of our year-to-date budget for water; and 47% of our year-to-date budget for propane. Here is a breakdown, first generally, and then by sustainability subcommittee, of the work we have done as a school:
General Committee with faculty, staff, and student representatives met every two • Sustainability months throughout the school year; six Sustainability Subcommittees met monthly throughout 2011-2012 to launch our efforts consulted with Evan Mills, a sustainability expert with the U.S. Department of Energy, • We Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Evan was part of the Nobel Prize winning team of scientists who worked with Al Gore on climate change initiatives featured in the acclaimed documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. He and his family are long-time supporters of Idyllwild Arts Foundation Foundation provided a CEO’s discretionary fund for sustainability projects • Aatgenerous IAA in Spring, 2012, and funded a $44,400 grant proposal for the same consumption data back to 2009 have been gathered in one spreadsheet and • Utility analyzed; 12% reduction of utilities expenses from FY11 to FY12, or $72,000.
• First Sustainability Report for 2011-2013 completed April, 2013 Building and Campus Subcommittee (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification funded for new • LEED campus Health Center California Edison “Savings by Design” process underway for Health Center and • Southern Concert Hall; program will lead to rebates from SCE on those two projects
• New faculty housing units to be constructed in Spring, 2013 will be Energy Star certified • New Campus Garden dedicated May, 2012 between Lower Wayne and Apela Drive. R
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Fuel and Energy Subcommittee electricity energy audit completed for classrooms; SCE provided IAA with • SCE-funded $24,000 in Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) and motion sensors for campus buildings
• Continued replacement of existing lighting with CFLs, including outdoor lighting • “Turn Off Lights” stickers posted around campus “shut-down” protocols introduced for vacation periods: all classroom and dormitory • New thermostats set to 60 degrees; 95% of all “barn” lights turned off; Troy practice rooms and surrounding area “blacked out;” dormitory hallway lights turned off
• Nightly security detail added to check for any lights left on at the end of the day • Pathway & exterior “barn” lighting converted from high pressure sodium to CFLs • Pool heated only May 1 to October 1; set at 50 degrees October to May • Initial energy audit for Ceramics program with kiln expert/conservationist Bruce Dehnert • Kiln retrofits and upgrades identified per recommendations of Bruce Dehnert include: Using the existing kiln frame, rebuild the propane kiln by installing ceramic fiber for the walls, arch, and door of the kiln; retrofitted kiln will be much more useful for firing sculpture pieces, and much easier and less strenuous to load, as it will become a front loading kiln as opposed to a top-loading kiln; estimated savings on propane is 30% annually. Purchasing new, highly efficient kiln shelves for the electric kilns: The kiln shelves we would like to buy for the electric kilns are a new generation of kiln shelves called nitride bonded silicon carbide shelves; features include significant energy savings due to the thinness (5/16 of an inch); the shelves are lightweight, which makes for fewer accidents and back problems. They also never warp and last three to four times longer than conventional kiln shelves; estimated energy savings anticipated is 15% annually. Idyllwild Arts has a long commitment to ceramics in its arts education and culture. That tradition includes legends like Maria Martinez, Susan Peterson, Tom Fresh, Fred Kabotie, Lucy Lewis, Blue Corn, Juan Quezada, and Greg Kennedy, among others. We have completed a grant proposal to fund the above projects.
• Weatherization audit underway; Weather stripping installed to all dorm exterior doors energy meters purchased (via grant) so Maintenance staff can identify and • Infrared fix energy leaks
“We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” Thich Nhat Hanh
• Seven new, high efficiency HVAC units installed at Lower Wayne dormitory in past year • Water Conservation Plan developed for campus. Goal is 10% reduction over five years thermostats installed to 70% of classrooms, and Pierson and MacNeal • Programmable Dormitories; plans to upgrade other dorms and all campus buildings with programmable, locked, and centrally-located thermostats, (via grant)
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campus Water Demand Study conducted by Krieger & Stewart • Comprehensive Engineering Consultants, Riverside, CA installation of low-flow shower heads and air-assisted toilets; low flow shower • Continuing heads standard to all showers on campus; air assist flush technology installed 100% to MacNeal, Pierson, and Husch dormitories water filtration system in Nelson Dining Hall, which will save about 500 gallons • Installed of water monthly, create cleaner water, and has provided a filling station for canteens. Individual IAA canteens were distributed to every student and faculty member at the start of the 2011-2012 school year
• New, substantially lower-cost contract negotiated with Suburban Propane options for introducing highly efficient Japanese “mini trucks” to Maintenance • Exploring fleet, and possibly some electric and/or hybrid vehicles on campus with Enterprise Fleet Management in Spring, 2010 to acquire and • Contracted cycle six new eight-passenger vans with considerably enhanced fuel economy, lower mileage, and comprehensive maintenance package included; vehicle maintenance and repair expenses have dropped 45% since 2009.
Curriculum and Education Subcommittee design for new course elective focusing on school’s connection with the land, • Curriculum Cahuilla history, sustainability principles, student leadership, and environmental activism undertaken over summer, 2012 (via grant); new class, “The Nature of Leadership” was introduced at the start of second semester, 2013 faculty, staff and students attended National Green Schools Conference in Denver, CO • Five in February, 2012
“What is the use of a house if you don't have a decent planet to put it on? ” Henry David Thoreau
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• Third Annual All-School hike to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto, fall 2012 and second field trips to Anza Borrego Desert State Park in March, 2012 and March, • First 2013 to facilitate “a sense of place,” foster students’ connection to the land, and enable students’ own values clarification as they pertain to preservation of natural places Studies class did extensive outdoor lighting exercise and analysis, which • Environmental was integral to lighting retrofits; also integral in the creation of the new campus garden
• Environmental Studies class research resulted in the following specific improvements: Outdoor light electricity usage before retrofitting was 42,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) each school year, equating to 64,700 pounds of carbon into the atmosphere. After retrofitting, usage is 11,400 kWh each school year, or 17,600 pounds of carbon. Retrofitting the outdoor lights therefore saves approximately 30,600 kWhs of electricity each school year, or 47,100 pounds of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere. Total school electricity use through lighting before retrofitting was 243,400 kWh each school year, or 374,800 pounds of carbon, while total school usage after retrofitting is approximately 212,800 kWh each school year, or 327,700 pounds of carbon. This is the kind of extraordinary teaching and learning our school has experienced this year, and which is serving the community from a financial and educational standpoint.
Collaboratives program invited Eric Lloyd Wright to campus to speak with • Creative the community about his work, and to undertake “Master class” style workshops with students; Eric’s work includes the restoration and renovation of Frank Lloyd Wright projects as well as residences and institutional buildings of his own. Through his work, he has developed an understanding that it is not the physical walls and roof, but the space within a building and its relationship to its environment that forms its character of a lecture series funded through grant support and devoted to sustainability, • Aswepart also invited pioneering fashion designer Violeta Villacorta, who for many years was senior designer at Patagonia, an industry leader in its commitment to environmental sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing processes, to present her vision for “social, environmental, and ethical practices” in the creation of clothing and other art. Violeta’s work includes the development of new, sustainable materials and collections, “season-less” design, educating about “slow fashion and consumption,” and working with indigenous artisan communities, using design and traditional arts as a solution to poverty. Life and Leadership Coordinator position job description redesigned with • Student emphasis on environmental stewardship
• Extensive public and internal messaging about school’s sustainability initiatives
“Sustainability is not a problem to be solved. It is a future to be created.” Peter Senge
Food Subcommittee approximately 22,500 plastic water bottles from campus since Sept, 2011, for • Eliminated a total cost savings of around $5,000 • Initiated “trayless” option in Dining Hall to reduce food waste and save water with Dining Services staff to successfully implement greater purchases of local, • Worked organic produce, eggs and tofu, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef; this effort is ongoing, as we actively seek community partners to identify locals farms and continue to reduce carbon footprint of food delivery food composting system created at site of campus garden to lessen • Student-driven food waste in landfills
• Waste cooking oil (~250 gallons/year) being reused for energy
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Recycling Subcommittee for recycling programs to improve campus recycling efforts is ongoing; we • Research provide clearly-marked recycling receptacles throughout campus, and educate students and staff about proper disposal of waste and recyclable materials through various forums with Idyllwild School recycling/fundraising projects, such as cell phone, battery • Working and computer recycling drop-off sites to paperless secure student record keeping in the Health Center and Log • Converted Lodge at start of 2012-2013 school year to conserve paper and comply with state and federal privacy mandates; all student application, registration forms, and Student Life handbooks for Academy and Summer Program delivered and processed electronically
Marketing and Outreach Subcommittee information gathering from other subcommittees to publicize sustainability • Coordinating efforts via Facebook, Twitter, and the IAA online publication, “CenterStage.”
• Wrote sustainability columns for Town Crier throughout school year 2011-2012* Earth Witness Foundation fundraising event raised approximately $1,400 for • Idyllwild student-sponsored sustainability initiatives at Idyllwild Arts, including construction of new campus garden; fundraiser included art work and musical performances by current Academy students and staff, as well as local artists Arts student “Greenies” club and Facebook group established with support • Idyllwild from staff to raise awareness and take on projects related to sustainability As with all of the best work we do at Idyllwild Arts, these sustainability projects have been successful because of the generous participation and thoughtful, careful collaboration we cultivate across diverse departments.
“Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so called scientific knowledge. ” Thomas Edison
*Please see student and staff sustainability columns included in the next section of this report. The Office of the Director of Operations would like to thank the following departments for providing their valuable time and ideas in completing these projects and preparing this report: Maintenance Housekeeping Transportation Dining Services Residential Life The Headmaster’s Office Student Leadership Programs Six Sustainability Subcommittees representing volunteers from Arts, Academics, Idyllwild community volunteers, and Student Services Support Staff
The Health Center Visual Arts InterArts Finance Project Management The Deans Council The Math and Science Departments Idyllwild Earth Witness Foundation Creative Collaboratives Admissions Marketing Advancement
An anonymous Foundation for its $44 thousand contribution to our efforts.
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As of the close of last fiscal year, we surpassed our goal of 10% savings on utility costs at IAA. We reached a 12% savings on our combined electric, propane, and water expenditures, from $600,714 in FY11 to $528,301 in FY12; this represents an approximately $72,000 savings. We are on track for additional savings in FY13. These important cost savings are only part of the reason we are committed to environmental sustainability at Idyllwild Arts. We believe it is an essential life skill to teach our students about individual responsibility, not only in taking care of the environment, but in taking care of themselves and one another.
Idyllwild Arts Foundation Utilities Trends FY09 through FY12 Electric Propane Water Total
Electric Propane Water Total
Electric Propane Water Total
Electric Propane Water Total
FY09 Budget 267,460 218,697 181,027
FY09 Actual 216,278 191,583 125,804
667,184
533,665
FY10 Budget 218,884 218,233 113,333
FY10 Actual 203,179 200,592 155,525
550,450
559,296
FY11 Budget 215,007 220,000 122,000
FY11 Actual 212,270 263,010 125,434
557,007
600,714
FY12 Budget 227,000 252,500 134,200
FY12 Actual 194,123 205,349 128,829
613,700
528,301
Overall Utilities Savings FY11 to FY12
“The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives. � Chinese Proverb
Percentage Savings FY09-FY12 Electric 8% Propane 6% Water 5%
$72,413
Overall Percentage Savings FY11-FY12 12%
Three-year average FY09 - FY11 compared to FY12 Electric Propane Water
FY09-FY11 210,575 218,395 135,587
FY12 194,123 205,349 128,829 Utilities Savings FY12 Percentage of FY11 Budget
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Going Green by Alexandra Gandionco ’13 “Going green” – It’s a fairly large statement and even a larger commitment to make. For a school to go green, it involves a lot of thinking, encouraging, perseverance, dedication, and curiosity.
“Live simply that others might simply live”
Idyllwild Arts Academy is moving toward being a greener school and being part of the green schools movement that has caught fire throughout the United States. One of the first steps towards this movement was our participation in the Green Schools National Conference earlier this week in Denver, Colorado. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to go to this conference, together with three other students, Michelle McMillan (11th Grade), Katherine Kearns (11th Grade) and Devin Debowski (10th Grade). The four of us were initially interested in making the school more environmentally friendly and also making ourselves more aware of environmental issues, but nothing prepared us for what the Green Schools Conference had to offer, and the effect it would have on us.
Ghandi After settling into our hotel rooms on Monday afternoon in Denver, we immediately started roaming the Exhibition Hall filled with organizations, companies, and products all contributing to making our world more sustainable. The five of us were constantly on our toes, eager to find out more about certain ideas and products, and how we can apply them to our school. The conference consisted of ‘breakout sessions’ - small hour-long sessions and presentations focusing on a certain aspect of making your school greener. We all chose specific sessions that we were curious about, or that contributed to already-spurred ideas we had. There were a number of well-renowned and fantastic speakers at the general session, including Majora Carter, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx, Philippe Cousteau, CEO of EarthEcho International, and Laura Turner Seydel, chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation. These speakers hit home with us, and inspired us so intensely to really care about what is happening to our world, and that we are able to make a difference. We were fortunate enough to have met some of these influential people. An important aspect of the conference was the relationships and connections we made. Our group was highly active in networking. We were always keen to make conversation with people we would run into who happened to be leaders of environmental organizations, teachers from other schools, or simply interesting people with innovating ideas. The exchange of business cards became second nature to us, as we jumped at opportunities to be able to stay in touch with people from all over the USA that may come in handy in the future. Relationships between our school and these people can be very valuable and useful, and we did not hesitate to build them with whomever we thought we could. You could say we had a ‘special appeal’ to others, as artists. There is sort of an allure behind the idea of an arts boarding school in the mountains, and adults tend to find passionate and driven young artists very intriguing. We found that there was much curiosity behind how we would integrate eco-friendliness into our art forms and all of us were more than ready to present our ideas. With Michelle a dance major, Katherine majoring in film, Devin in Interdisciplinary Arts with a focus on interior design, and myself, a classical vocalist, there are
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many ways of incorporating the ideas gained at the conference into our art, and there is always a way to make our art more eco-friendly. As artists, thinking outside of the box is instilled into us, and this is very much essential in the process of creating projects to make our environment more sustainable. Ideas for our school were constantly on our minds, and on the van ride back to school from Los Angeles International Airport one would think that four tired teenagers who just spent the last three days on their heels would be fast asleep. In reality, it was the contrary. The post-excitement of the conference was visible, as we spent the two and a half hour-long ride back home, discussing ideas that we had. Everyone was already looking forward to putting what we learned into action. A special thanks inevitably goes towards our chaperone Shannon Jacobs, student life and leadership coordinator at Idyllwild Arts, who not only fully organized and put together the trip (needless to say, it could not have happened without her), but also dealt with four very excited teenagers successfully. For me, personally, this conference enriched me in more ways than one. I have not only learned and been educated, I have been inspired and motivated to push for this movement like no other. The conference, in short, made me care. There is nothing like the feeling of wanting to go out and save this planet. And how could you not want to? Idyllwild, California is beautiful and so rich in its nature and wildlife. As students that live here everyday, we can sometimes take its magnificence for granted, but we all must face the facts – if we do not act now towards becoming more eco-friendly, this may all be lost. I know that none of us could even begin to imagine what Idyllwild would be like without the abundance of the beauty it currently holds. For us, the idea of ‘environment’ and ‘nature’ is not distant or detached - we are living in it. And that is why we feel so strongly that this green movement is extremely important.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
“Idyllwild Arts is going green”- yes, it is a large statement, but it is nothing short of possible. It is something that we four students, our leader Shannon Jacobs, together with the rest of Idyllwild Arts, are absolutely going to put in everything we have, to make happen.
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Trying to Walk the Talk: Thoughts About Conservation, Preservation and Where all Things Come From by Shannon Jacobs, Student Life and Leadership Coordinator
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein
The fact that we are currently experiencing money woes, foreclosures and general insecurity have encouraged us to begin thinking of ways to conserve, preserve and act in a more simple, thoughtful manner. These efforts, that I have observed include conservation, the reusing of materials, more deliberate purchasing and emphasis on local business support are all concepts which support the larger concept of “Sustainable Living.” I tend to think of this concept as a way of daily life which impacts our society in a more positive way by building community, supporting ecological conservation and preservation, and promotes a simpler, less consumerist focus. My first exposure to the concept of sustainable living was when I discovered Foxfire Books. You may remember that these were a humble, rather quirky series of books with the theme of do it yourself (DIY) everything. As I consult the cover of one of the books I see the topics of instruction, “…animal care, banjos and dulcimers, hide tanning, summer and fall wild plant foods, butter churns, ginseng and still more affairs of plain living.” If you happen to be unfamiliar with this series of books circa late ‘60s, I highly suggest giving them a once over…not that you plan to utilize raccoon hides as supplemental clothing, but the level of ingenuity will strike you and the photos will give you a giggle. This was a favorable, memorable introduction to “simple living.”
A formative sustainable living experience that really nudged me to try to behave in a responsible, insightful occurred when I was in my 20’s, working for the wilderness expedition school called “Outward Bound.” I had been living in Everglades City, Florida, and had just begun some well-earned time off. My boyfriend at the time had family on Eluthera Island in the Bahamas and we’d gone to stay with them for a week. My recollection of his relatives were that they were a lovely, young couple who seemed never to have or use money at all. What they had was a boat, and that was all they needed. Their lives consisted of catching fish and assisting locals with building/improving structures or fixing cars. For the fish and labor, the couple was rewarded with pounds of fresh produce and meat grown by neighbors. They very rarely bought anything new at all. In one instance, I recollect them receiving gallons of ripe tomatoes, traded for a large barracuda they’d caught. They cooked and “canned” those tomatoes in hundreds of reused glass Corona beer bottles, complete with
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caps. They seemed to reuse everything they had, and if they didn’t need it, they traded with someone who did for something they did need. Such a simple, thoughtful concept! At this point, we depart from canning tomatoes in the Bahamas or reading about coon skins to, and return present day Southern California, where things definitely don’t feel “simple”: A therapist friend of mine states that the majority of her clients are suffering from anxiety/depression, much of which is fueled by economic woes and the resulting stress it seems everyone is feeling these days. I don’t believe I’ve spoken with anyone who has not been impacted in some way. In light of this fact, I challenge us to reframe our view. I encourage us to find our sense of ingenuity which in recent past has seemed in torpor. We have not had to give too much thought to where our purchases come from. We have not had to think so much about the ecological cost of things. In the eight or so years I have lived in Idyllwild, this last year was the first that I planted a garden to grow produce. This last year, I made gifts for those whom I love. Why did it take me this long? This year, I vowed to purchase only things that I need, often asking myself whilst standing in Nomad Ventures or the like…”yes, but do I need it?” Which takes me to my next point. Even if you have had rudimentary dealings with me, you will know that I am a self-professed “Foodie.” As a result of my pursuit of all things yummy and ecologically sound, I have become familiar with the “Slow Food Movement,” which is way of thinking and cooking that involves fresh, local, organic ingredients and actual cooking, something many of us find ourselves doing less of these days. Proponents of slow food include Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkely, writer Michael Pollan, who has penned of a myriad of books about social and environmental justice as they pertain to our food supply. My particular favorite is Botany of Desire: A plant’s-eye view of the world. It is as a result of this tome, I no longer eat conventional potatoes…yikes! This holiday season, as we attempt to conserve resources, energy, money and time, I encourage you to consult with some great (free) resources. For those who are left staring face to face with…say, persimmons and have no idea what to do with them, google up www.epicurious.com. This is a fantastic resource…all one must do is enter your food item with which one is flummoxed and a myriad of dishes to be prepared starring that food will pop up! I once fixed a wonderful meal with the central ingredient being kumquats. Another simple way I have found to learn about sustainable living is through free podcasts. Unlike reading, I can cook, clean or wash dishes and be listening to the most recent happenings in the realm of responsible living and food news. Some podcasts I encourage giving a listen are: Heritage Radio Network, Earth Eats (WFIU) and the Yale University Sustainability Program. (These are all free on Itunes).
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank
Meanwhile, as I go about my days on the Hill, I continue to think about how to conserve resources by way of repurposing, trying to be thoughtful about where and what I purchase and what it’s made of. These actions have been proven in past (and are again), serving to do such things as build community, save cash, promote ingenuity and health and create art. I would encourage us as a community to be thoughtful, be kind, and use what we have wisely. That really is the embodiment of sustainable living.
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Lighting the Way to Sustainability and Savings by Ed Huddleston, Director of Physical Plant Idyllwild Arts Academy has substantial outside lighting requirements, for visibility and safety. Students, faculty and visitors are often out in darker hours, going to and from dorms and the dining hall, the library and various art studios, or attending on-campus performances and recitals. At the same time, IAA has a combined utility bill of over a half million dollars a year and the desire to undertake a sustainability program. So, outside lighting is one of many areas we have been looking at. Plus, many of us have outside lighting needs at home. The campus has both path lighting and “barn” (attached to buildings) lighting. In both cases, past fixtures were specified to be high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, which are both expensive and use considerable power. We have recently started retrofitting path lighting between dorms. The high-pressure sodium fixtures cost $350 to install; HPS bulbs are $29 each, and need 70 watts of power. By contrast, Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL’s) cost $9 each and use 19 watts of power. So, both the bulb cost and the power cost are over two-thirds lower with CFL’s. The predicted longevity of both types of bulbs is the same. Since safety is paramount, we conducted a practical lighting test as well. I had my maintenance crew replace bulbs on one side of a path, without telling me which side had been replaced. When I went out to view the results, I could not tell which side was HPS and which CFL. So now, paths can be safe and help our sustainability program as well.
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try. ” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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Barn lighting is also more cost-effective with CFL’s. An HPS fixture is $150 and a bulb $35, while a CFL fixture is $105 and bulbs $25 each. An HPS bulb is projected to last longer, but even with two CFL bulbs the total HPS cost is $185 and the total CFL cost $155. The power costs are again over two-thirds lower with CFL’s – they use 42 watts of power while the HPS bulbs use 150 watts. Outdoor lighting is only one practical area where IAA is looking at sustainability improvements which also save money. We have started a five-year Water Conservation Plan, with a goal of reducing water usage 10 percent. By installing low-flow shower heads and air-assisted toilets in dorms and other buildings, we have met the first-year reduction goal of 2% less water use. IAA also had an electrical energy audit completed for classrooms. Southern California Edison paid for the audit and will provide fluorescent lights and motion sensors for those classrooms. A weatherization audit, focusing on insulation, is also in the works, as well as purchase of infrared equipment so that maintenance staff can spot energy leaks in our many older buildings. The school has applied for foundation funds for other sustainability projects, such as programmable thermostats to lower temperatures when classroom buildings and art studios are not in use, and a water filtration system for the dining hall which will lower water usage as well as purify the water. As part of that project, water bottle refill stations will be added to the dining hall so that students can use school-issued canteens and cut down on plastic water container use. There are lots of practical and cost-efficient sustainability measures we are pursuing at school, and that you can use at your home or business as well.
A World Made of Plants by Michelle McMillan, ’13 I like to think I grew up in a world made of plants. As a child I spent most of my time up a tree, tunneling through the underbrush, or in the garden. My mother and father were always outside, working together to make things grow and trying their hardest to get the three of us kids to help them weed, water, or whatever. When I was younger my job in the garden was to plant the carrots each year and my mother planned it so that they would be ready to harvest around my birthday in August, showing me that the greatest gifts one can receive are those from the earth. The most beautiful times of my life were spent outdoors in greenery, and as I grew older I worked hard to do what I could to protect it and the world in which it grows.
“Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” Edwin Hubbel Chapin
Last year when I came to Idyllwild Arts Academy for my sophomore year I was perturbed by the massive amounts of paper napkins, the shocking fact that all of our salt and pepper shakers are single use and the small greenhouse in a back corner of campus that was never used. As a first year student last year I was completely overwhelmed trying to balance my academics, arts and social life and so, though I longed for the opportunity to get on my knees in the garden dirt and plant, weed and water, there was simply no time, and the little greenhouse sat still. Back in February a group of four students and one teacher from IAA went to the National Green Schools Conference in Denver, Colorado to learn about ways in which other schools were making a difference and how we could make our school more environmentally friendly. The thought of the greenhouse had never left my mind and so I went to several lectures on gardening, school gardens, composts, etc. Upon returning to IAA I got in touch with a few others around campus who were as excited about the garden as I was, and in the end it was Martha Ellen Wingfield, her Environmental Studies class, and the campus Maintenance Staff, who really put the beginnings of our garden together. The 2011/12 school year was filled with wonderful and exciting developments in our sustainability program, such as this one, and this will only continue next year. The sustainability group has grown in numbers and so, naturally, we have more ideas than ever. Now every morning before classes I go out to the greenhouse and water the seedlings I have growing in there, as well as the seedlings of others’, delighting in the day-to-day growth. Every morning, I am reminded of the progress we are making here, combining the arts and a love of the environment to lessen our footprint and increase the beauty we put into the world. At the end of each day, I go to close the greenhouse door, or check that someone else has beat me to it, and I feel reassured by the reminder of what we are growing here. Not only are there plants in that little greenhouse now, but there is sign of progress, and of progress still to come.
“Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the people of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it.” Chief Seattle
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55% recycled / 30% post consumer waste.
Idyllwild Arts Foundation 52500 Temecula Road PO Box 38 idyllwildarts.org Idyllwild, CA 92549