Volume 102 • Number 1
Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, Massachusetts
October 26, 2012
The Castle Leads Community’s Green Initiative Helen Kirk Staff Writer
This September marked the opening of the new Castle, the result of a process of refurbishing the old Castle and creating an addition that features a larger kitchen, a terrace, and new dining and serving halls. The Castle Project is another example of the green initiative at Nobles. With a goal of creating a zero net increase in energy consumption, almost every aspect of the design process was thought through with energy efficiency in mind. The expertly angled windows, a special roof on the terrace, thermal solar panels, and radiant floors ensure the proper temperature for diners while using less energy. The windows and roof let in light and heat when the sun is low and block the sun from heating the building in the warmer months. Also, pipes running below the Castle use water heated by solar panels to warm up the dining halls. The production of waste has also been dramatically decreased with the use of a Pulp Extractor. One of only a few machines of its kind in New England, the Pulp Extractor, affectionately referred to as “The Pulverizer,” takes waste products such as napkins, discarded food, and even inorganic materials and extracts water. Organic waste is then crushed into compost. The old section of the Castle has also been refurbished. Built over 120 years ago, the Castle had no structural drawings, and the process was mostly guesswork and was riddled with surprises, according to Business Manager Steve Ginsberg. However, even with such challenges, all four floors of the old Castle were modernized, including the
The view of the Castle with its new addition from Greene Field (Photo Credit: Jonathan Sands)
insertion of an elevator, handicap access, and more efficient plumbing, heating, and electrical systems. While faculty housing in the Castle previously consisted of a dorm-like room with a shared bathroom down the hall, the Castle now provides full apartments, each complete with a bathroom and kitchenette. Additionally, the Castle library now serves as a meeting room and lounge.
The combination of these modern systems in the old section of the Castle and the highly effective green initiatives seen in the new side has made this goal of creating a zero net increase in energy use quite realistic, and although he was skeptical at first, Ginsberg assures that the theory makes sense. The numbers are not in yet, but the possibility of having attained this goal is very likely. The Castle is expected to receive
at least a silver, and likely a gold, LEED certificate. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a series of rating systems for the construction and design of green buildings that gives architects and building owners a framework for constructing practical and energy efficient buildings. To receive a gold certificate is not only a great honor, but also an incredible achievement for the school, as it re-
quires full commitment to sustainability and reduction of energy use. From the Pulp Extractor to the solar thermal panels on the roof of the addition, the Castle is now energy efficient, and shows the school’s continued concern for the environment. “It is important to demonstrate this commitment to educating students about the importance of sustainable design,” said Ginsberg.
Nobles’ Muslims Reflect on School Experiences Kim Nguyen and Anika Singh Staff Writer and Multimedia Staff
What’s Inside
Violent protests against antiIslamic content continue to flare worldwide. The coverage of the Muslim population responsible for violence incites discussions of cultural sensitivity, tolerance, freedom of expression, and justification, all of which have reached the Nobles campus. Reflecting upon these events has raised a critical question: in a space of so many contrasting opinions, is Nobles a safe place for Muslims? Hamzat Raheem (Class I) can barely recall a time when he felt targeted for his Islamic faith. Only once, while traveling with a group of other Muslims to a Nigerian Muslim conference, did Hamzat face dis-
Introduction from our President Page 2
crimination. Customs officers made their uneasiness clear through stares and excessive security checks. Their discomfort was disconcerting to Hamzat and his friends. In contrast, no interaction involving his religion at Nobles has ever made him feel uncomfortable. “I believe that ignorance births things like intolerance and discrimination. People at Nobles are pretty educated, so naturally there isn’t even an air of lack of acceptance that exists. I feel accepted by default,” said Hamzat. Raheem Barnett (Class I), another Muslim student, said, “People don’t really dwell on [my religion] at all, and I think that is a good thing. I think it doesn’t really matter what your religion is when you are here, and I think that it really shouldn’t,”
New Teacher Profiles Pages 3-4
said Barnett. When asked about whether or not students are accepting of Muslims once they are aware of his religion, Barnett said, “It’s not something that I naturally go up to people and say. I don’t naturally talk about [my religion], but I don’t think that is because I’m Muslim, or I feel like I need to do that. It’s just not something that naturally comes up, and if it does, no one ever treats me differently.” One of the most demanding Islamic customs is Ramadan. Although the fasting usually takes place over the summer, other practices fall on the school calendar. Nobles does not allot vacation days for Islamic traditions, but “is incredibly understanding about missing a day of school,” Hamzat said. “Islam
An excerpt of the Qu’ran and an Arabic transliteration of “Qu’ran” (Graphic: Kim Nguyen)
Continued on page 9
Presidential & Senatorial Election Coverage
The Shadow Stalks Tom Morrison (Class II)
Pages 6-9
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