Branksome Hall,
Fostering Sustainability developed Branksome Hall’s Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (BESAP) which includes strategies for helping the school achieve its mission of “building environmental sustainability into the life of the school”. As part of this process, Fostering Sustainability worked with a Steering Committee including members of the school administration, staff and faculty, students and parents. Working Groups were set-up to examine options and opportunities for reducing the school’s eco-footprint and fostering among students awareness of global citizenship and environmental stewardship.
The BESAP includes plans for greening of Branksome Hall in the following three areas:
- Resources (efficiency of facilities and operations, policies, purchasing, energy management, waste and recycling, water efficiency, landscape/grounds management and transportation);
- Community (student life, admissions, communications, advancement and working with parents); and
- Curriculum (inquiry and critical thinking about sustainable development in academics and professional development).
The BESAP also includes guidelines for integration of sustainability principles into the campus Master Site Plan Update. Branksome Hall has the goal of achieving LEED Silver certification for any new buildings and will consider LEED criteria when renovating existing buildings. The BESAP programme of energy efficiency and green initiatives will continue to reduce operating costs and the school’s eco-footprint, and is an example to students and the community at large as to how to incorporate sustainability principles within an existing complex campus.
More recently, Fostering Sustainability assisted Branksome Hall in completing the paperwork required in order to apply for certificaton as an Ontario Ec-School. Branksome successfully has achieved Gold certification as part of that program.
