Common Ground | Environmental Practices

ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES

People find Common Ground for many reasons. They come to take a break from the city, to enjoy their families and neighbors, to explore the farm and forest. We welcome the diverse community that seeks Common Ground for these and other reasons.

But Common Ground aims for something deeper, as well. Through our site – forests, farm, and buildings – we seek to explore and model environmental practices that will sustain both ourselves and our planet. We are looking for practical, real-world strategies to reduce global warming, limit our environmental footprint, and re-build connections with our natural environment. And we are eager to share these strategies with members of the Common Ground community, young and old.

Here are one dozen of the environmental practices that you can explore at Common Ground:

1. In 2007, Common Ground installed an array of photovoltaic solar panels on the school’s roof. The panels were provided through a generous donation by the Connecticut Clean Energy fund. See live data on solar generation at Common Ground.

2. We purchase 100% clean electricity, generated by wind, small hydroelectic, and landfill gas. Students on our Envirothon have signed up dozens of families for clean energy, as well.

3. Solar Gain from the greenhouse on south side of the farmhouse reduces heating costs and energy use.

4. Common Ground’s school building is built into the hillside, resulting in reduced heating cost in winter and cooling in summer.

5. Common Ground produces thousands of pounds of food each year, avoiding transportation of food, which travels an average of 1500 miles in the United States. We use organic growing methods to produce this food, which avoids chemical fertilizers (energy use and runoff issues) and pesticides.

6. Electronic thermostats turn down the heat at night and on weekends.

7. Maple syrup is made from Common Ground’s trees using sustainably harvested firewood.

8. Biodiesel fuels the tractor between April and October.

9. Carbon credits are purchased to offset operation of Common Ground’s 15-passenger bus.

10. Students use existing CT Transit service to get to and from school, and for many field trips, avoiding additional fuel consumption for busses.

11. All of Common Ground’s organic waste is composted, along with leaves from the site. We are currently piloting community composting, inviting some neighbors and restaurants to contribute their organic waste.

12. In every Common Ground classroom, students recycle paper, plastic, and cans. Students in the Environmental Science class educate their peers about recycling and take responsibility for the recycling process.


	Environmental practices ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES People find Common Ground for many reasons. They come to take a break from the city, to enjoy their families and neighbors, to explore the farm and forest. We welcome the diverse community that seeks Common Ground for these and other reasons. But Common Ground aims for something deeper, as well. Through our site – forests, farm, and buildings – we seek to explore and model environmental practices that will sustain both ourselves and our planet. We are looking for practical, real-world strategies to reduce global warming, limit our environmental footprint, and re-build connections with our natural environment. And we are eager to share these strategies with members of the Common Ground community, young and old. Here are one dozen of the environmental practices that you can explore at Common Ground: 1. In 2007, Common Ground installed an array of photovoltaic solar panels on the school’s roof. The panels were provided through a generous donation by the Connecticut Clean Energy fund. See live data on solar generation at Common Ground. 2. We purchase 100% clean electricity, generated by wind, small hydroelectic, and landfill gas. Students on our Envirothon have signed up dozens of families for clean energy, as well. 3. Solar Gain from the greenhouse on south side of the farmhouse reduces heating costs and energy use. 4. Common Ground’s school building is built into the hillside, resulting in reduced heating cost in winter and cooling in summer. 5. Common Ground produces thousands of pounds of food each year, avoiding transportation of food, which travels an average of 1500 miles in the United States. We use organic growing methods to produce this food, which avoids chemical fertilizers (energy use and runoff issues) and pesticides. 6. Electronic thermostats turn down the heat at night and on weekends. 7. Maple syrup is made from Common Ground’s trees using sustainably harvested firewood. 8. Biodiesel fuels the tractor between April and October. 9. Carbon credits are purchased to offset operation of Common Ground’s 15-passenger bus. 10. Students use existing CT Transit service to get to and from school, and for many field trips, avoiding additional fuel consumption for busses. 11. All of Common Ground’s organic waste is composted, along with leaves from the site. We are currently piloting community composting, inviting some neighbors and restaurants to contribute their organic waste. 12. In every Common Ground classroom, students recycle paper, plastic, and cans. Students in the Environmental Science class educate their peers about recycling and take responsibility for the recycling process.