By Ian C. Beck ’12
THE ROUNDUP
Mr. John Michell, the chair of sustainability at Brophy, spoke to an Advanced Placement Environmental Science class Oct. 27 about the school’s sustainability plans.
This board seeks to educate Brophy students, teachers and parents on how to be sustainable, as well as finding ways to make the current campus, the sports campus and other future projects more sustainable.
“Fr. Reese realized that the area of sustainability is very, very important not only to the school but to our community,” Mr. Michell said. Mr. Michell also serves as a Brophy Regent.
Some things Brophy has already begun to work on include: buying more efficient laptops, placing more recycle bins around campus, installing more water fountains and investing in energy saving technology such as new light bulbs and window screens.
Ms. Patty Mazier is one of the teachers leading the effort for a more sustainable school.
“I think that discussions and education needs to occur in all classes as to why reducing, reusing and recycling are not only the sustainable thing to do but they are what we are called to do if we are trying to be men for others, and it is also a question of justice,” Ms. Mazier said.
The board has a goal of raising $200,000 this year to further their efforts. Aviation company Honeywell came onto campus last year to examine Brophy’s current state of sustainability and offer advice on various technologies it could utilize.
Some suggestions included upgrading lighting and improving heating and cooling systems. But most of their suggestions were costly and had long returns.
Despite the costs, some students still approve of Brophy’s steps toward sustainability.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction and the Honeywell energy audit was a particularly important first step towards that end,” said Ryan Filler ’10.
One of the major, current plans includes changing the thermostats in each building so they warm only one specific room rather than the entire building.
For example, buildings such as Brophy Hall are often changing temperature due to the fact that the entire building is cooled and heated from one system. This is not only costly to Brophy, but also becomes a comfort nuisance to students and teachers.