Article by Olivia Katavolos, Sustainability Intern, Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants
Wondering how your school compares with others around environmental sustainability?
The results from the Sustainability Survey for PAISBOA schools are in! The Sustainability Survey, now in its second year, was created by Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants for PAISBOA member schools. This March, eighteen independent schools responded to the survey.
Participating schools in the survey include:
Agnes Irwin, Baldwin, Delaware Valley Friends School, Devon Prep, Friends’ Central, Friends Select, Germantown Academy, Germantown Friends, Gladwyne Montessori, Haverford College, Hill School, Moravian Academy, Moorestown Friends, Stuart Country Day, Solebury, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Westfield Friends, & Westtown School.
According to Mary Ann Boyer, “We created this survey to help area schools identify which sustainable practices can be the most effective. We hope the results will help a school prioritize their sustainability efforts.”
“Sustainability initiatives took a step backwards during covid,” continues Boyer. “And we’re now seeing schools elevate their focus on sustainability.”
For example, one participant noted, “Completing this survey made me realize how many steps backwards we have taken during COVID. I hope that we can regain some of the ground we have lost after some of the restrictions lift, especially in the cafeteria!”
Another participant reflected, “We had a lot of momentum pre-pandemic and are just returning to a state of engagement with the community. Excited for the future!”
Key to moving forward with a school’s sustainability efforts budging for sustainability initiatives.
Screenshot of one of the survey questions regarding budgeting for initiatives.
Additionally, schools that commit to having a designated sustainability leader achieve greater success in moving their sustainability efforts forward. A third of the respondents have a designated sustainability coordinator.
Screenshot of one of the survey questions regarding leadership.
Responses regarding recycling and composting shared a common theme: 100% of schools recycle but only 47% of respondents have clear signage showing the materials that can be recycled. 50% of schools compost while, similarly, only 47% of respondents have clear signage showing what materials can be composted. Contamination was an issue in most cases.
Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants offers customized top tips and next steps for what individual schools can do to help lessen their environmental footprint based on the survey results. Survey participants will receive a complimentary overview of the combined results. For schools wanting a deeper dive of the results, Boyer Sudduth can provide a customized summary report on what impactful steps their school can take to make sustainability improvements.
The Sustainability Survey will be launched again in March 2023. For more information about the survey, contact Mary Ann Boyer of Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants at maryann@boyersudduth.com.
For questions about the PAISBOA Sustainability Group, please contact Ron Hill at rhill@paisboa.org.
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The PAISBOA Sustainability Group is a network of environmental sustainability champions from member schools. The group gathers three times a year at a member school for a tour of "green" campus features and discussion of a sustainability topic over dinner. Representatives range from faculty advisors to student environmental clubs, to members of a school "green team," STEM coordinators, facilities managers, and heads of school or directors of finance. Newcomers are always welcome.
