This year, the Sustainability Club is focusing on a range of new, project-based initiatives to make Belmont Hill’s campus more sustainable. From organizing cleanup events to quantifying the school’s carbon footprint and preparing for the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC) Conference, the club has several key goals and projects that will drive meaningful change on campus and beyond.
Last year, the club participated in the James Pener Conference at Thayer Academy, engaging in workshops on environmental topics such as transportation and food waste. This year, the club aims to go further by attending similar conferences and having Belmont Hill students present on topics they are passionate about, like food waste, sustainable products, and future initiatives. The club is also exploring opportunities to attend additional conferences and is even considering hosting one at Belmont Hill.
Last year saw successful cleanups at Mystic Lake in Medford and the Charles River in Cambridge. The club hopes to expand these efforts this year with more interscholastic collaboration.
The Sustainability Club is also launching three new initiatives this year: quantifying the school’s carbon footprint, reducing food waste, and increasing communication through updates in The Panel. Surprisingly, Belmont Hill currently lacks the tools to accurately track its carbon footprint, especially concerning building energy use and the ambiguous numbers of students and faculty commuting to school via car and bus. To address this, the club plans to conduct surveys and explore potential equipment upgrades to estimate the school’s carbon footprint to identify ways to reduce it. Additionally, food waste has long been an issue at Belmont Hill, and while various efforts have been made to tackle it, no initiative has yet been implemented. The club plans to collaborate with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, an organization that aims to deliver leftover food ingredients to those who can not readily access food to ensure that unused food at school is donated rather than wasted. Finally, the club aims to improve its outreach by posting monthly updates in The Panel, keeping the school community informed and engaged in the club’s sustainability efforts.
In June 2025, Belmont Hill will host the IBSC Conference on campus. This will be a highlight of the year, with hundreds of international guests expected. Such a large gathering raises concerns about waste and environmental impact. The Sustainability Club plans to be actively involved in the planning process to ensure the event is as eco-friendly as possible. Additionally, the club hopes to set up its own tent at the Conference to showcase the sustainable initiatives undertaken throughout the year.
The Sustainability Club encourages student and faculty involvement to help achieve these goals. Participation in projects isn’t required, but involvement in cleanup events, sustainability conferences, and other initiatives would greatly support the club’s efforts.
The 2024-2025 school year promises to be exciting, and the club is eager to make Belmont Hill a more sustainable place. With the support of the community, there’s a great potential for meaningful change, and together, the Sustainability Club can create a greener future for the school.
