Athenian School receives 2013 environmental award

The Athenian School receives the  ACTERRA 2013 Business Environmental Award

First Independent School to Win the Award; To Be Honored on May 30—             

Danville, CA —The Athenian School’s commitment to environmental stewardship and radically reducing its carbon footprint has garnered the School Acterra’s 2013 Business Environmental Award for Sustainability. The Athenian School is the first independent school to be named a winner of these awards.

Over the past seven years, the School has reduced its carbon footprint by installing several solar power arrays that has resulted in a 60 percent reduction in the use of non-renewable electricity; decreased water consumption by 25 percent with the installation of low-flow toilets and an all-weather sports field; reduced natural gas consumption by 40 percent by replacing hot water supply and heating units with high-rated Energy Star systems; and reduced waste haulage by 45 percent by composting and recycling efforts. Athenian is an EPA Green Power Partner, a founding member of the Green School’s Alliance, and is certified as a green business by the Contra Costa Green Business Program.

“I am very proud of our students and faculty for helping making environmental stewardship a business priority,” said Bob Oxenburgh, Athenian’s Director of Finance and Business Operations, who has spearheaded the School’s environmental efforts. “Our business operations serve as a model to our students, and they have joined in improving all our practices to prove it’s possible to do good for the planet and improve business efficiency as well.”

Acterra’s Business Environmental Awards is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s oldest and most prestigious environmental recognition programs. Initiated in 1990, it is considered a heavyweight among award programs due to its rigorous application and judging process. “Our awardees participate in a thorough vetting process through which they demonstrate their environmental commitment and accomplishments,” states Committee Chair Laura Teksler. “In addition to a written application, all finalists must demonstrate their programs’ merits firsthand to the judges during a visit to their facilities. By the time they are selected to receive recognition, our awardees have truly proven that their programs are exemplary examples of corporate environmental leadership.”

Environmental stewardship is a founding pillar of the School and nearly all of the 472 students are involved with an eco-friendly project. Activities range from converting a gas-engine Honda into an electric car, reducing water use through sustainable agriculture techniques and improving rain catchment, and working in one of the two student-run organic gardens on campus.

The Athenian School will be honored at the 2013 Business Environmental Awards Reception on Thursday, May 30th at Intuit Corporation in Mountain View. For information regarding the other award-winning programs, please visit www.acterra.org/bea.

More information:

The Athenian School is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day school located in Danville, CA. An Athenian education inspires students to become life-long learners and confident, successful adults with a deep understanding of themselves, extraordinary skills for achievement, and the compassion to make a positive difference in the world. The School’s signature programs include the Athenian Wilderness Experience, international Interim trips, a robotics collective, and a student-built airplane project. With 450 students in grades 6 to 12, Athenian’s 75-acre campus lies at the base of Mt. Diablo in Danville, 32 miles east of San Francisco. The Athenian School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Association of Independent Schools. www.athenian.org.

Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet

Acterra is a non-profit organization with a 43-year history of environmental programming in and around Silicon Valley. Acterra involves and educate individuals, businesses and communities to take action against global warming, restore natural habitats, and cultivate environmental leaders for the future. For more information visit www.acterra.org.

  Athenian School, Danville