Exeter, NH (February 29, 2008)—Phillips Exeter Academy finished this year’s Green Cup Challenge averaging a 4.3-percent reduction in electricity and saving more than $5,000 in electricity costs. Overall, the monthlong energy conservation competition among 31 schools prevented more than 1,174,885 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere. That’s the equivalent of 58,744 gallons of unused gasoline; 2,643,491 miles not driven by vehicles; or driving the circumference of the planet 106 times in a Toyota Prius, which gets 45 highway MPG.

Together, the participating schools saved more than $83,000 in electricity costs, and came close to their goal of reducing electricity by 10 percent. For many schools participating for the first time, this year’s GCC was a valuable education. 

Focusing on the positive impact of having a goal-oriented outcome for all involved, this year’s GCC was different from previous challenges. “We realized last year that in order to build a stronger collaboration among students, faculty and staff, we needed to move away from the competition element and move toward working together to educate others and reach a common goal,” says PEA Sustainability Coordinator Jennifer Wilhelm. “We wanted each participant’s efforts to be collectively counted for. I feel strongly that this year especially, our GCC educated and motivated even more members of our communities to get involved and follow the practices of sustainability. I think many students and schools for that matter, realized the impact of an individual’s contribution to a wider, community effort.” 

This year’s challenge included a “Focus the Nation” roundtable discussion, during which industry experts and advocates debated the critical roles of individuals, community and government in sustaining natural resources. It also included: dining by candlelight; a student video competition to educate and motivate involvement in the effort; a movie series; a speaker series; a trivia game night; and a Green Cup Pledge, where those involved promised to use less energy, water, get more exercise and recycle whenever possible. 

Wilhelm explains that the challenge’s basic goal—educating communities—remained the same as the size of the sustainability effort multiplied. “Our goal to educate our communities about the impact of environmental and economic choice, and to ultimately reduce campus emissions of greenhouse gasses remains our top priority. But what I’m most proud of is that this year, the GCC potentially reached 20,000 with its message,” she says.

This year, participants included: Berkshire School, in Sheffield, MA; Brooks School, in North Andover, MA; Cheshire Academy, in Cheshire, CT; Choate Rosemary Hall, in Wallingford, CT; Darrow School, in New Lebanon, NY; Deerfield Academy, in Deerfield, MA; Eaglebrook School, in Deerfield; The Ethel Walker School, in Simsbury, CT; Green Mountain Valley School, in Waitsfield, VT; Governors Academy, in Byfield, MA; Groton School, in Groton, MA; The Hill School, in Pottstown, PA; Holderness School, in Holderness, NH; The Hotchkiss School, in Lakeville, CT; The Kent School, in Kent, CT; The Lawrenceville School, in Lawrenceville, NJ; Maine Coast Semester, in Wiscasset, ME; Mercersburg Academy, in Mercersburg, PA; Millbrook School, in Millbrook, NY; Northfield Mt. Hermon School, in Northfield, MA; Phillips Academy, in Andover, MA; Phillips Exeter Academy; Proctor Academy, in Andover, NH; The Putney School, in Putney, VT; St. George’s School, in Newport, RI; Stoneleigh-Burnham, in Greenfield, MA; St. Andrew’s School, in Middletown, DE; St. Paul’s School, in Concord, NH; Westminster School, in Simsbury, CT; Wilbraham & Monson Academy, in Wilbraham, MA; The Williston Northampton School, in East Hampton, MA; and Worcester Academy, in Worcester, MA.

For more information about the Green Cup Challenge, visit http://www.exeter.edu/comm/866_4265.aspx. More information can be found on each participating school at http://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/greencup/map.html. Each school’s GCC video can be seen at http://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/greencup/studentvid.html. To learn about the Green Cup Challenge, contact PEA Sustainability Coordinator Jennifer Wilhelm at (603) 777-3765. A complete list of upcoming events is available on the Phillips Exeter Academy public events line at (603) 777-4309, and on our website at http://www.exeter.edu/.

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory school that was founded in 1781 and originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of its charter to foster both goodness and knowledge, a Phillips Exeter Academy education will now be free to any admitted student whose family income is $75,000 or less. Committed to educational excellence, the school meets all demonstrated financial aid needs of its admitted students, making the Academy effectively “need blind.” The diverse student body comes from a wide variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds approximately from 45 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and 23 foreign countries.