Catlin Gabel has begun to develop a schoolwide plan for achieving 100% environmental sustainability. This effort originated at the Imagine 2020 conference of 2006.

Planned Initiatives

Educational Program

• Students take better care of computers
• Educate community about computer recycling
• Continually evaluate computer use, including student and faculty 1:1 laptop programs

Community

• Build a coalition of interested educational institutions
• Pressure manufacturers to produce more environmentally friendly and durable computers

Built Environment

• Increase use of duplex printing

Energy/Waste

• Shut down or "deep sleep" computers when not in use
• Ensure that all computer waste goes to re-use, recycling, or disposal facilities as appropriate
• Increase use of good-on-one-side-only (GOOSO) paper
• Increase paper recycling
• Reduce paper consumption, toner use, and printer wear

Materials

• Exclusively use "zero-violation" paper
• Purchase computers with reduced levels of toxic materials ("green" computers)

Current Practices

• Most machines have two to four roles within the school before “retirement”
• Retired machines in working order go to Catlin Gabel community or Rummage
• Broken machines go to Free Geek for repair and re-use
• Hazardous materials go to an e-waste disposal center
• Printers capable of duplex printing are so identified on the network
• PaperCut network print management software planned for next year
• New requirements for extended warranties and accidental damage protection so that computers last longer
• New generation of electronic communications systems: instruction, admission, development, business office, food services
• Investigation of “green machines” currently under way (example)
• Employee and student Microsoft Office software purchased "media only," without manual or packaging.
• Annual report donor lists published on website, no longer included in printed magazine.