Westminster Competes in Green Cup Challenge

Westminster School is once again competing in the annual Green Cup Challenge (GCC), a national competition among high schools to reduce electricity consumption during a four-week period. The competition began Jan. 21 and will end Feb. 18. Participating schools track and compare energy savings during the challenge, with the goal of having their energy conservation efforts continue long after the challenge ends.

Westminster students and faculty spearheading the effort include EcoTeam presidents Whitney Powel ’11, Dillon Tiner ’12 and Ronald Yeung ’13, and faculty advisors Mark de Kanter ’91 and Grant Gritzmacher.

“We have tried to make the EcoTeam have more of a presence on campus, and during the GCC, it is our chance to really get our name out there and promote environmentally correct habits, as well as inform and educate the community about our green initiatives,” said Whitney Powel. “The fact that the Armour Academic Center is a green building puts Westminster at an advantage during the GCC, but we need to make sure that we do not rely on just Armour to have a successful run in the challenge! Everyone in the community must be environmentally conscious in their decisions, especially in the next few weeks.”

Several student groups are putting together videos to promote environmental awareness, including one for submission to the Green Cup Challenge and one to be viewed by the school community.

Other EcoTeam initiatives planned this month involve a chapel talk and more emphasis on recycling and reducing waste.

Six student members of the EcoTeam, along with Mr. de Kanter, attended a Green Cup Challenge Conference at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Mass., last November to exchange ideas with students at other participating schools about ways to create an environmentally sound campus all year round, not just during the GCC.