Fellowships in Sustainability

Sustainability is about being green and much more. It’s about designing a world that allows life to flourish — individually, as a community, and ecologically. The Fellowships in Sustainability engage the HB community with thinking, learning, and action to help build a flourishing future.

How to Join

Sustainability Electives

• In Sustainability I, students see the world through a sustainability lens
   
• Sustainability II/III is a project-based class that alternates, biannually, between political action for sustainability and institutional change-making

Student Green Team

This student-led group educates the school community on environmental issues, executes action projects to promote environmental stewardship, and plans events

Program Integration

The Fellowships in Sustainability support students interested in bringing this lens to work in other Fellowships and in the core curriculum

Graduation Designations

Seniors graduate as Sustainability Fellows by following this path: 

• Sustainability I, grades 9 - 10 

• One year of Sustainability II/III, grades 10-11

• Sustainability Capstone Course, grade 12 

• AP Environmental Science or Economics, grades 11 - 12

• On-campus sustainability service, grades 9 - 12 

• Off-campus experiences, grades 9 - 12 

• Capstone project and final reflection, grades 11 - 12

More about Sustainability Program

The Sustainability program encourages teachers in all divisions to introduce new skills and perspectives into the core curriculum. The program also works with the school’s administration to reduce the environmental impact of our facility and operations.

Sustainability builds curiosity about the natural world by creating and maintaining outdoor learning and exploration spaces for students.

Campus Initiatives

• Solar Panel Project: students from the Campus and Community Sustainability class coordinated the installation of a five-panel solar array
   
• Recycling and Composting: HB recycles paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, and metal cans and aluminum, as well as outdated technology. Computers and other equipment are refurbished for a second life or recycled for use in manufacturing.  Food scraps and paper products are composted.
   
• Energy: HB works to reduce energy use through LED lighting and HVAC upgrades. For example, the Ahuja Auditorium was fully converted to LED lighting, with a projected annual reduction in electricity use of 80 percent. In addition, the Center reports the school’s greenhouse gas emissions annually to the Board of Trustees.
   
• Biodiversity: Used for nature exploration and observation for students, the campus Bird Sanctuary occupies approximately ¼ acre. Planted with native perennials, shrubs, and trees, the space supports birds and pollinator populations. 
   
• Food: HB’s Food Philosophy prioritizes local and seasonal foods, as well as nutrient-dense, high-fiber foods, with an emphasis on fresh vegetables. Multiple vegetarian and vegan options are always available.