Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was awarded the Green Flag by the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program due to the successful greening of different aspects of campus life. From waste management to water reservation, the school has gone above and beyond to prove their sustainability commitment for the past two decades. Their initiatives are impressive: SCH has the largest solar array in Philadelphia, a Gold LEED-certified building with a wind turbine, multiple rain gardens, multiple recycling and composting in their cafeteria.

As the highest award the NWF grants, SCH is the only independent school (and out of 150 total) in Pennsylvania that received the Green Flag.

As Frank Aloise, Chief Financial Officer of SCH shared, “Not only do the students and community feel good about our sustainability initiatives, we feel strongly that it is good business sense to implement best practices in energy conservation, water management, and waste management. We continue to see the benefits, particularly in reduced energy costs.”

SCH educated about sustainability beginning in Pre-K through 12th grade. The younger students help plant herb and vegetable gardens. The middle schoolers manage the recycling program and older students help with trail restoration in the Wissahickon. Each division has an Eco club which decides which issues they want to face through education and action on their part.

The Green Flag will be hung in the main corridor of the school as a reminder to stay on task when it comes to making a difference in the world of sustainability.

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Megan Milligan is a journalism student at Temple University. She loves writing about people's lives and the issues that affect them. Rarely will you ever see her without coffee in her hands. View all posts by Meg Milligan