About D-E
D-E Green

Green Campus

D-E Green Campus


The D-E Green Team has worked closely with the D-E Facilities staff to implement a wide range of more environmentally sustainable buildings and grounds practices. These practices conserve energy, lower our carbon footprint, conserve water, and limit the amount of waste that we produce. We describe some of those efforts here (see below), which will continue to be updated as future projects develop!
 
  • EPA Green Power Partner: how many independent schools in New Jersey can say that 100 percent of their electricity in 2016 will come from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power? Just one, and that school is Dwight-Englewood. Click here to learn more. 

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy Statement:  IPM on school property is a long-term approach to maintaining healthy landscapes and facilities that minimizes risks to people and the environment.  To view the most current D-E IPM Notice (PDF) click here. 
  • Cafeteria Certification by the Green Restaurant Association (www.dinegreen.com). D-E is now a 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant, and was the first school in NJ to even be certified!  Some of the ways in which D-E earned this certification was through the use of Disposables, such as biobased hot cups and recycled office paper, as well as energy-efficient faucets, each of which helped D-E score high marks in the following categories: Food, Waste, Energy and Disposables. Click here for a press release providing more information on Flik's partnership with the Association.
  • LED Lights: Four LED ceiling light bulbs were recently installed in the Environmental Science classroom as a pilot as we consider making further use of these energy saving bulbs. Environmental Science students will do some calculations to determine how much energy we can save as well as the cost of using these bulbs. Additionally, the new parking lot on North Woodland Street will have new light fixtures with LED bulbs installed by first week of October. 

  • IEQp2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control. The Dwight-Englewood School is a no-smoking campus. Smoking is prohibited in any building and any area within the school grounds. This is consistent with the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act: “Smoking is prohibited in any area of any building of, or on the grounds of, any public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, regardless of whether the area is an indoor public place or is outdoors.” To clearly communicate this policy, signs stating that the school is a no-smoking campus are placed at the main entrance to the school grounds.

  • Registered Edible Schoolyard Site by The Edible Schoolyard Project
  • Solar Panels (see below)

List of 2 items.

  • Solar Panels Save Power at D-E, and Power Students' Environmental Learning

    Sustainability efforts within and around D-E's campus have been ongoing for more than five years. Through donations made specifically to develop a solar energy program at D-E and funding from the state of New Jersey, the $28,000.00 installation of 18 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of Pope Science Hall was made possible in 2006. The solar panels produce approximately 3.1 kilowatts of power, totaling to about 3600 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, and saving the school approximately $440.00 per year in energy costs. D-E also receives income from utilities that are required by the state to pay for renewable energy production, amounting to about $740.00 per year. In addition, the school receives money from selling Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) earned by producing clean energy. The price varies from year to year, but so far the school has earned over $9000 from this credit.
     
    The Schenck Auditorium and Imperatore Library, which share one electrical meter, are partially powered by the new solar energy system. The energy created by the solar panels emits no noise or pollution and is one of the best-known alternatives to CO2 producing fossil fuels. The school’s system saves approximately one to two pounds of CO2 per kilowatt-hour amounting to several tons each year.
     
    Upper School Science teacher Don McNeil spearheaded the solar energy project. “The challenges of finding economically and environmentally sustainable sources of energy are among the most important concerns for our students to understand,” said Mr. McNeil. “Having a full-scale solar energy project will allow our students to learn about crucial energy issues in the most effective way possible—first hand experience and data analysis. They will then be better prepared to make sound energy choices as consumers and as leaders in the future.”
     
    Head of School Dr. Rodney V. De Jarnett echoed these sentiments, adding:  “The installation of solar technology at D-E provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for our students as well as help protect our environment and cut energy costs.  We are grateful to our donors and the state of New Jersey for helping us to obtain this innovative learning tool that will also benefit the greater community.”
     
    The new solar energy installation provides students in the Upper and Middle Schools with an excellent educational resource to which few students throughout the state have access.
     
    Mr. McNeil welcomes your questions and comments. Please contact him by email at mcneid@d-e.org or by phone at 201-569-9500, ext. 3604.

  • Tracking Energy Saved with Solar Panels

    D-E Upper School Environmental Science students regularly track the energy saved with the use of the solar panels on the roof of Pope Science Hall. Click here for a PPT featuring student-generated graphs measuring solar output.
     
    More details about the Pope Science Hall solar panels are as follows: 
    • Size: 18 panels, approximately 3’ x 4’ each, 230 ft.2, manufactured by General Electric; 25o angle; installed in 2006
    • Power: 3.1 kilowatts
    • Energy production: 3,600 kw-hr per year, roughly the equivalent of a small residence
    • Inverter: turns direct current (DC) from panels into alternating current (AC) and sends it into the building’s electrical system; if more electricity is produced than used in the buildings (unlikely unless buildings are unoccupied) the extra energy goes into the grid and the meter moves backwards
    • Cost: $28,000 ($17,000 paid by state of New Jersey, $11,000 funded by several donations made to D-E specifically for this project)
    • Inspected and approved by town of Englewood, N.J. Board of Public Utilities, and PSE&G
    • School Use: Pope/Auditorium/Library (all on one meter) uses about 50,000 kw-hr each month (~$6,000)
    • Savings: Average PSE&G residential customer pays 15 cents/kilowatt-hour; D-E utility bill savings approximately $550/year
    • D-E also receives money from selling Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) earned by producing clean energy - New Jersey utilities required by the state to produce or purchase a certain amount of renewable energy; the price varies from year to year, but so far, we have earned over $9,000 from these credits
    • Saves approximately two tons of CO2 emissions each year, in addition to other air pollutants released when electricity is produced by burning coal and natural gas; a step toward our goal to minimize the carbon footprint of the school
Mailing Address: 315 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631
gps: 81 Lincoln Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-9500 Email: d-e@d-e.org
Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.