Capturing Water and Sunshine
Thacher doubles down on environmental sustainability.
Years of planning and behind-the-scenes work have came to fruition this summer as Thacher halved its year-to-date water use, began work on a 3-acre solar array, and marked progress on a host of additional environmental initiatives.
Making Every Drop Count
As California works to meet a mandated 25 percent reduction in water usage, Thacher has managed to double that figure. Campus water usage is tracking at 48 percent, less than half of usage rates from recent years. This success is the result of systematic experimentation, education, and investment. In the process, dormitories and faculty homes have been equipped with low flow devices, our irrigation systems have been upgraded, watering has become more selective, and we've developed new ways of capturing and using greywater and rainwater.
A large portion of water savings can be attributed to our new Upper Field, which was rebuilt last fall from the ground down. Thanks to the generosity and vision of a Thacher mom and dad, we can now boast one of the best water-conserving, state-of-the-art soccer/lacrosse fields. This field features a rubber liner with underground irrigation so water and nutrients are available right where the grass needs it...the roots. The result is not only a perfectly flat field that athletes love, but also a field that uses about 40 percent of the water that a traditional field requires. This fall, Thacher will be visited by folks from various parts of Southern California who are considering the same type of field. Meanwhile, we’ve cut back watering for other lawns and plantings.
Recognizing that thousands of gallons of usable water flow out of campus each year, the School applied for and received a grant to take advantage of the greywater from all of our dormitory laundry machines. A team of workers came to campus in June and dug trenches and installed pipes so that greywater is now irrigating trees on campus, potentially saving us 550,000 gallons of water annually.
As part of the same grant, Thacher hosted a greywater workshop attended by 30 technicians from all over California. The class’s practical project was the design and installation of a 5,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system for half of one of our stall building roofs. It wasn’t long before the new system was put to the test. About two hours after installation was completed, an unusual summer rain brought more than an inch of rain to campus and just about filled the tank. The water from this tank will be used to supplement irrigation for trees. This demonstration is part of a larger initiative to install rainwater harvesting systems for all our Horse Program area roofs, which, with just a 3-inch rain, have the potential to collect all the water the Horse Program uses in a year (600,000 gallons).
Harnessing the Sun
The reality in Ojai, however, is that sunny days far outnumber rainy ones. Given our surplus of sunshine, Thacher is moving ahead with plans to install a 2,898-panel photo-voltaic solar array that will cover roughly half of Carpenter’s Orchard, the 5-acre pasture between campus and the Gymkhana Field. Fully funded this summer through the generosity of two anonymous donors and the family and friends of Thacher’s class of 2015, the $3.5 million array is expected to supply as much as 90 percent of Thacher’s electricity needs and save the School more than $175,000 per year in energy costs. This fall Bold Rock Energy Services Group will begin installing the 745 kWh system, which is projected to be operational by spring of 2016.
“We expect the new array to generate over 1.22 million kilowatts per year,” explained Director of Facilities Ed Bennett. “That alone is enough to reduce our carbon footprint by 35 percent.”
Over the past ten years Thacher has made great strides in reducing energy consumption by improving electrical systems and installing LED lighting, high efficiency pumps and motors, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment. In addition to their environmental good, such efforts help protect Thacher from the impact of uncertain energy costs.
In recent years, the solar project has had many champions, including the Sustainability Council, the student-led Environmental Action Committee (EAC), and parents and alumni who have stepped forward with ideas and financial support. “This has been a truly School-wide effort,” said Head of School Michael Mulligan, “and one that clearly reflects Thacher’s long history of embracing, caring for, and learning from the natural world.”
Other Environmental Initiatives
These notable developments in water management and solar energy are just two of many current campus initiatives furthering Thacher’s commitment to protecting our home planet through environmental sustainability. This commitment is expressed in Thacher’s Sustainability Statement, which begins:
Deeply rooted in its heritage of valuing the teaching power of the outdoors, The Thacher School is committed to fostering a life-long respect for nature and the environment. Aware of the significant environmental challenges the world faces in the 21st century, Thacher strives to be a leader in sustainable practices and to equip and inspire its students with the tools they need to be good stewards of the planet.
Following is a digest of many of the other ongoing projects carried on through the good efforts of students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni.
Beekeeping
Thacher’s Beekeeping Program supports a healthy, productive colony of local bees that pollinate campus plants and have supplied us with more than 90 pounds of honey.
Thacher’s Beekeeping Program supports a healthy, productive colony of local bees that pollinate campus plants and have supplied us with more than 90 pounds of honey.
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach Program serves the EAC's formal commitment to connecting and collaborating with other schools and environmental organizations in the Ojai Valley and beyond. By scheduling beach clean-ups, organizing creek-bed weed eradication, and even adopting a section of the Ojai Bike Path, EAC members connect with local schools and organizations to assist in their environmental practices, to exchange ideas for collaborative events, and to celebrate their commitment to a sustainable future.
The Community Outreach Program serves the EAC's formal commitment to connecting and collaborating with other schools and environmental organizations in the Ojai Valley and beyond. By scheduling beach clean-ups, organizing creek-bed weed eradication, and even adopting a section of the Ojai Bike Path, EAC members connect with local schools and organizations to assist in their environmental practices, to exchange ideas for collaborative events, and to celebrate their commitment to a sustainable future.
Dorm Gardens
As part of a broader effort to reduce Thacher’s carbon footprint—not to mention to produce tasty organic treats for their dorm mates—students have been experimenting with dorm area gardens, offering our community firsthand experience in organic micro-farming.
As part of a broader effort to reduce Thacher’s carbon footprint—not to mention to produce tasty organic treats for their dorm mates—students have been experimenting with dorm area gardens, offering our community firsthand experience in organic micro-farming.
Green Cup Challenge
Every February, Thacher’s 220 boarding students shorten their showers, dim their lights, lower their thermostats and recycle more of their trash as they vie for the title of the year’s greenest dorm during the inter-dorm competition, the Green Cup Challenge. While the weekly pizza prizes encourage conservation, this friendly competition empowers students and builds community, while raising awareness about climate change and the importance of resource conservation.
Every February, Thacher’s 220 boarding students shorten their showers, dim their lights, lower their thermostats and recycle more of their trash as they vie for the title of the year’s greenest dorm during the inter-dorm competition, the Green Cup Challenge. While the weekly pizza prizes encourage conservation, this friendly competition empowers students and builds community, while raising awareness about climate change and the importance of resource conservation.
Hog Program
Over the past four years, several generations of well-tended porkers have completed the loop in our community’s food cycle by feeding on Dining Hall food scraps and eventually becoming food themselves. In addition to reducing food waste, this program affords students a crucial firsthand glimpse into food systems.
Horse Manure Composting
This year Thacher completed construction of a manure and food waste composting facility, funded in part by the Will J. Reid Foundation. Now, instead of trucking off campus the 1,200 tons of manure produced annually by Thacher’s 130 horses, we now compost it on site to be used as mulch on the School’s pastures, fruit trees, and landscaping.
The Swale
The 2012–13 Kumana Prize team made it their goal to rejuvenate Carpenter’s Orchard, an increasingly desiccated 6 acres that was being used for horse paddocks.This student effort helped establish run-off protection needed to allow the broadcast of compost from our new manure composting project. The first compost was spread this May.
The 2012–13 Kumana Prize team made it their goal to rejuvenate Carpenter’s Orchard, an increasingly desiccated 6 acres that was being used for horse paddocks.This student effort helped establish run-off protection needed to allow the broadcast of compost from our new manure composting project. The first compost was spread this May.
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A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.