Bedwell School's Energy Savings Win Green Ribbon

The New Jersey Department of Education has announced that Bedwell  Elementary School in Bernardsville is one of only two school buildings in the state to be recognized as a 2013 New Jersey Green Ribbon School.

Additionally, Mariel O’Brien, the Somerset Hills School district's Energy Coordinator. said Bedwell will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education as one of New Jersey’s nominees for recognition as a Green Ribbon School at the national level. Bernards High School also received state and national recognition in 2012 as a Green Ribbon winner for its energy saving and environmental practices.

This year's winning New Jersey schools are scheduled to be formally recognized on March 15 at the New Jersey Sustainable Schools Conference in Monroe, O'Brien said.

The Green Ribbon School Program, announced in the Fall of 2011 by the United States Department of Education, recognizes exemplary achievement and best practices in the areas of environmental impact and energy efficiency, healthy school environments and environmental and sustainability education.

Bernards High honored in 2012 as U.S. Green Ribbon school.

Last spring, Bernards High School had been one of 78 school buildings nationwide that was recognized as a U.S. Green Ribbon School.

Late in March, Bernards High had been chosen as one of four school buildings in the state to be recognized as a 2012 New Jersey Green Ribbon School and was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education as one of the state’s nominees for a Green Ribbon School award at the national level, later achieving the award at the national level.

Peter Miller, superintendent of the Somerset Hills School District, last year said the district has been conducting a number of energy-saving and sustainability
initiatives, as directed by the district’s strategic plan, implemented in June
2008.

O'Brien said the strategic plan included the goal of implementing a comprehensive green initiative to promote high performance, green, sustainable facilities; expanding students’ environmental awareness and community service relating to caring for the environment; and developing an integrated environmental education curriculum.

The Bedwell School has implemented these action plans and continues to monitor, measure, evaluate and improve upon its goal of creating a green and sustainable school, she said.

“Everyone at Bedwell Elementary School is so proud and excited to receive this award,” said Amy G. Phelan, principal of Bedwell Elementary School. “Students, staff members, administrators and parents have all contributed to our efforts in decreasing Bedwell’s energy consumption, reducing our carbon footprint, lowering our energy costs and increasing understanding and awareness of environmental concerns.”

As part of the green initiative, the district, as a whole, has participated in a grant-funded Comprehensive Energy Audit, an Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP), the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Pay for Performance (P4P) program, North American Power Partner Partners Demand Response Program and the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) Program, O'Brien said.

The district also instituted a board-approved energy policy aimed at reducing energy waste and increasing awareness of environmental concerns within the buildings.

Solar panels installed at Bedwell

Solar panels were installed on the roof of the Bedwell School this summer, according to information from the school district.

The 2013 National Green Ribbon winner will be announced in April and will be recognized at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Green Ribbon Schools Program is modeled after the Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which annually honors public and private schools that are either high performing or have improved student achievement to high levels. Upon review of applications submitted by all states, the U.S. Department of Education will award Green Ribbons to schools where staff, students, officials and communities have worked together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthy school environments and to ensure the sustainability and environmental literacy of graduates.