We all care about our planet. But our actions do not reflect this. Climates are changing, species are dying, and rain forests are disappearing. All because of human activity. We are all responsible. It's time to stop waiting for a miracle. We need to change how we live at home, in school, and at work. But first, we must make an environmental change at Rutland High School. This website is home to several proposals as to how we can realistically implement these changes.
Food For Thought:
Where is all of our "stuff" coming from?
Where does all of our "stuff" go once we're done using it?
What are other schools in Vermont doing to improve their efficiency?
How can we use things more efficiently and save money by doing so?
What are other schools in Vermont doing to improve their efficiency?
What materials can be recycled and/or composted and how can they be separated?
What impact will I have?
The Problem
Humanity has always relied on natural resources for food, fuel, and shelter. Our exponentially increasing global population is exhausting these resources. Furthermore, we are not effectively managing the waste we produce. If we want our children and future generations to inherit a planet capable of sustaining life, we must change our lifestyle habits as individuals and as a society to become more energy efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. Many people know this, yet we continue to live our lives as if our actions have no effect. Through conducting my research, I was exposed to a wealth of information consisting largely of environmental problems and solutions. Unfortunately, the persisting problems seem to outweigh the current solutions. In order to become part of a sustainable society, Rutland High School must alter some of its fundamental practices to be energy efficient and cost effective.
Humanity has always relied on natural resources for food, fuel, and shelter. Our exponentially increasing global population is exhausting these resources. Furthermore, we are not effectively managing the waste we produce. If we want our children and future generations to inherit a planet capable of sustaining life, we must change our lifestyle habits as individuals and as a society to become more energy efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. Many people know this, yet we continue to live our lives as if our actions have no effect. Through conducting my research, I was exposed to a wealth of information consisting largely of environmental problems and solutions. Unfortunately, the persisting problems seem to outweigh the current solutions. In order to become part of a sustainable society, Rutland High School must alter some of its fundamental practices to be energy efficient and cost effective.
How Wasteful is the United States? What About Vermont?
Another debacle of our society is waste management. Most people have a vague understanding of where all of our “stuff” goes after we’re done using it. Few people realize the colossal mass and volume that all this trash takes up. Americans make up only 4% of the global population but produce 30% of the world’s trash. The average American produces fourth-fifths of a ton of trash per year. That multiplied to 251 million tons of waste per year in 2006. Schools and commercial locations alone produced 35% of this waste (Kulpinski, Dan). And that’s only in the United States. In Vermont, the average waste produced is three pounds per person. The amount of trash generated worldwide is almost incomprehensible.
Another debacle of our society is waste management. Most people have a vague understanding of where all of our “stuff” goes after we’re done using it. Few people realize the colossal mass and volume that all this trash takes up. Americans make up only 4% of the global population but produce 30% of the world’s trash. The average American produces fourth-fifths of a ton of trash per year. That multiplied to 251 million tons of waste per year in 2006. Schools and commercial locations alone produced 35% of this waste (Kulpinski, Dan). And that’s only in the United States. In Vermont, the average waste produced is three pounds per person. The amount of trash generated worldwide is almost incomprehensible.