Poly staff are actively involved in making the school facility and surroundings a more actively green environment.
"Smart" Lights
In 2015, "smart" lights were installed around the whole school to reduce energy usage. These lights are automatic and turn off after approximately 10 minutes of inactivity.
Reduction of Styrofoam Trays
Since spring 2014, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute has been used as one of a few test schools chosen by the Baltimore City Public School System for the implementation of reusable cafeteria trays. Poly has since been experimenting with using the reusable plastic trays and seeing how the transition from Styrofoam to plastic can become permanent. Below is an email from Joanna Pi-Sunyer, the BCPSS Green Schools Coordinator, detailing Poly's involvement in the pilot program for reusable trays.
Solar Panel Installation
In 2015, Poly won a Constellation E2 Energy to Educate grant for about $25,000 to install solar panels in its parking lot to completely power its aquaponics facility. The solar panels are currently being installed and will be fully installed after this application deadline. Attached is the grant to fund the progressive solar installation project and pictures of the panels being installed.
SolarPanelGrantProposal.doc | |
File Size: | 94 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Bioretention Facility
Maryland Port Administration's Schoolyard Greening Program partnered with Poly in 2012 to install a bioretention facility by the side parking lot to reduce stormwater runoff. Since then, the facility has been maintained by Poly faculty to keep its purpose and function.
Plants in the School!
Plants have been placed in Poly's halls for the past two years to manage and improve indoor air quality. The plants are watered by various teachers.
Poly Uniform Drive
For the past several years, poly's PPFA (Poly Parent and Faculty Association) has led a school wide uniform drive.
- PPFA volunteers collect the gently used uniforms shirts, sweaters, hoodies during Uniform Drive designated days. This is done during a week after Spring Break and a during a week after the seniors are finished wearing uniforms. Uniforms can also be donated at any time. PPFA does not take uniform bottoms at this time.
- PPFA volunteers sorts and stores the uniforms into type/size bins in the PPFA Uniform Warehouse (Room 114). Poor quality uniforms are put into a bin for give-away.
- PPFA volunteers sell the uniforms during designated sales events, typically when the rising freshman & their parents are coming to Poly for placement testing and summer prep week, during Back to School night in September, and during each grade's fall evening program. Uniforms are also sold before and after the monthly PPFA meeting.
- Prices are set at $5 for shirts, $10 for sweaters and hoodies.
- PPFA advertises these events via the PPFA membership email list and the Naviance parent contact email list. Flyers are sent home with students to advertise the uniform drive days and sales events. It is announced during the Morning Announcements. Signage is posted in the school, and PPFA volunteers stand in the parking lots with signs to collect uniforms.
Poly Day of Service
In 2015, Poly had its first day of service. During the event students planted trees in the quad. Students also assisted with building a garden in the quad, cleaning the school, organizing the classrooms, and other activities to ready the school building for the 2015-2016 school year!