About

Sustainability

Environmental
SUSTAINABILITY

As an AIMS accredited school, we accept our responsibility to cultivate in all members of the school community an attitude of environmental responsibility, to embrace sustainable campus practices, and to promote student learning of environmental sustainability in the classroom, on the campus grounds, in the surrounding watershed, and within the wider world.

Jemicy has a history of being an environmentally aware and responsible school. Evidence of the school’s embrace of sustainability can be found in its green initiatives, which include ever-expanding curricular integration, clubs, community service endeavors, and the school’s facilities.

Jemicy School Sustainability
MAJOR FOCAL POINTS

List of 7 items.

SOLAR>>
In the winter of 2018, a total of 307 solar panels were installed at Jemicy’s two campuses in Owings Mills; the system became operational in April 2019. The installation was made possible by a generous grant from the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, which aims to promote sustainability and environmental responsibility and help schools reduce their carbon footprint.
- a 63.64 kW photovoltaic array consisting of 177 panels on the Upper School Campus
- a 48.1 kW photovoltaic array consisting of 130 panels on the Lower/Middle School Campus
The solar arrays are estimated to generate 137,270 kWh (in the first year) and offset 78 tons of CO2. In addition, the project will create significant savings for the School by generating renewable energy credits (SRECs) valued at $7,550 (in the first year). The SREC plus the yearly electricity savings will decrease Jemicy’s energy costs overall by approximately 15 percent over the next 10 years. The panels' performance can be monitored from the real-time solar dashboard accessible on this website page, as well as displays in the lobby of each campus.

In 2013, Jemicy’s first photovoltaic panels were installed atop a newly constructed, state of the art, stand-alone science classroom on the Lower and Middle School Campus. This structure’s offset gable roofline enhances the southern roof exposure to maximize generation of electricity. Students can measure the amount of electricity that is being generated by the panels via a video monitor with the classroom.
FACILITIES>>
In addition to the solar panels, Jemicy’s facilities reflect the school’s deliberate efforts toward sustainability.

Examples can be found on one or both campuses
- LED lighting and motion detector light switches
- Upgraded roof insulation
- HVAC systems supported by circulation fans and programmable thermostats
- Gas-fired rooftop heating units
- Geo-thermal system controls HVAC in portion of Upper School Campus
- Rainwater collection barrels irrigate indoor science greenhouse
- Remote operable skylights
- Entrance vestibules to reduce heat loss/gain
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & CLUBS>>
Extra-curricular activities offer increased opportunities for students to engage in reducing the school’s carbon footprint. Additional activities and clubs are being planned.
Current Clubs
- Green/Garden Club - Planting native tree species, installing rain garden
- Trout Raise and Release Club
- E.C.O. Club (Environmental Conversation and Outdoors Club)
CURRICULUM>>
Jemicy will incorporate its partial conversion to solar energy into its curriculum so that the school community will increasingly understand the need for and the advantages of alternative energy solutions. New units of study in math, science, and social studies will be added to the already existing courses, below, and students will be guided to consider and calculate energy collection and usage; utility costs; environmental benefits; societal issues; and more.
Current Curricular Integration
- Watershed science: Grades 1-3 mapping; Grade 5 Chesapeake Bay study/Echo Hill Outdoor School; Grade 6 Earth Science curriculum
- Alternative energy projects – Grades 1-8
- Migratory species research and monitoring – Grade 4
- Earth and Environmental Science classes – Grade 6
- English/Science unit on water scarcity – Grade 9
- Environmental Science elective – Upper School
- Bioethics unit on global sustainability – Upper School
- Recycling, campus clean-up, and composting – School-wide
- Biodiversity partnership/schoolyard citizen science contributions to the Maryland Biodiversity Project – Lower and Middle School
COMMUNITY SERVICE >>
Each year, the school community volunteers at various venues throughout the Greater Baltimore area.
Organizations whose green initiatives have routinely been aided by Jemicy student/faculty volunteers
- Department of Parks and Recreation – beautify parks, trails, and waterways
- Irvine Nature Center – trail maintenance, mulching, trash collection, removal of invasive plants
- Living Classrooms Foundation – urban park clean-up
- Real Food Farm – mulching, weeding, cleaning up trash, and/or turning compost
- Weinberg Gardens – assist seniors with gardening
ALUMNI AND FAMILY INITIATIVES>>
Opportunities are created and/or promoted to encourage hands-on sustainability participation
Recent events include
- “Litter Blitz” clean-up of Herbert Run in Ellicott City
- “Rakes and Ropes” clean-up of campus ropes course
AFFILIATIONS>>
Jemicy’s has been recognized for its commitment to creating, maintaining, and preserving a sustainable environment and has partnered with organizations who share that mission.
Award and partnership history
- 2004-2012: Jemicy received the Maryland Green School Award for “integrating the environment into instruction, modeling best environmental practices, extending learning into your community.”
- 2012: Jemicy joined Eco-schools USA: “committed to providing a sustainable and healthy place to explore new educational horizons”
- 2019: Jemicy joined Green Schools Alliance: Agreeing that “as sustainability stewards, our school will set goals, take action, and monitor and share progress in the three sustainability leadership action tracks: