Students in the HHS Environmental Club and the Earth Systems classes updated the HHS CAP originally published in 2018. Students in the HHS Environmental Club also wrote a wood chip procurement request for proposals (RFP) with the intent of switching HHS’s wood chip source to one that is consistent with practices of sustainable forestry. Sustainable forestry is understood within SAU 70 to constitute caring for, managing, and protecting forest ecosystems from which wood is harvested. The RFP was sent out for bid by the SAU 70 Facilities department and the source of wood chips was switched to a source that met many of the standards associated with sustainably sourced wood. Furthermore, HHS Environmental Club students presented to the SAU 70 School Board recommendations for changes to the SAU 70 Strategic Plan. These changes addressed exploration of new technologies and areas of sustainability, measurement of SAU 70’s progress towards sustainability, and consideration of environmental justice and equity in new capital projects. Additionally, the changes proposed that the SAU 70 CAP will serve to inform capital improvement planning and decision making and ensure that taxpayer resources are invested with the goal of minimizing the impacts of climate change in school facilities and operations.

The HHS Environmental Club collected data from each of the four schools in the district pertaining to building energy, bus transportation, water and wastewater, solid waste, and employee and student commute. Population data for the towns of Norwich and Hanover were gathered to estimate population projections. Data was used to show, by sector, the GHG emissions being produced. Additionally, the HHS Environmental Club met with the SAU 70 Heads of School to discuss creating a CAP for each school in the district. Groups of students and staff at each school interested in helping to develop their CAP met in June 2024 to discuss sustainability issues and generate ideas of ways GHG emissions could be reduced.

Currently, students in the HHS Environmental Club are training 9th grade students on how to properly sort trash generated by the school. By having 9th grade students undergo the sorting process of separating recyclable and compostable materials from the waste stream, rising classes will be better prepared to continue these sustainability efforts. To contribute to the initiative of replacing fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs, HHS Environmental Club students used lighting maps of the light fixtures throughout the HHS building and estimated the number of LED bulbs necessary to replace the current fluorescent bulbs. Because the March Intensive program at HHS has been identified as a significant source of GHG emissions, HHS Environmental Club students have also calculated the GHG emissions per student for each course and had them published in the March Intensive Program of Studies so that students can make more informed decisions about the March Intensive they choose.