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Sustainability
Newark Academy empowers young people to be effective change-makers and ethically responsible global citizens. With a generosity of spirit, our students engage in an array of activities that allow them to learn about sustainability and become contributors to the broader community of the world. Our commitment to sustainability is championed by our Board of Trustees and is a key priority in the 2023-27 Strategic Plan. The school recently named a Director of Sustainability to lead these efforts. Through academic programs, clubs, and green building, the NA community is actively working together to raise awareness and reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
NA Students Unveil Sustainable Water Bottle Chandelier
Newark Academy students transformed 4,000 plastic water bottles into a beautiful piece of sustainable art — a massive chandelier under the guidance of renowned New Jersey-based contemporary sculptor and upcycler Willie Cole.
Middle School To Debut Solar Panels
NA's Board of Trustees has authorized the creation of a long-term Sustainability Plan. The most exciting and immediate outcome will be NA’s first installation of solar panels on the roof of the Wilf Middle School! With the installation of the panels, the school can immediately reduce its carbon emissions by 5%.
Eco-Conscious Living & Learning
A variety of sustainability topics are addressed within NA's curriculum. From science, math and humanities to languages and a class on Creating Community, NA's courses allow students to make meaning of important sustainability issues, while inspiring students to take action.
Our students will be doing the work of saving our planet, so it’s our responsibility to expose them to the many ways sustainability arises across areas of study, to raise their consciousness and to give them the skills to go out and make a difference.”
– Neil Stourton, Director of Sustainability
Middle School
Grade 8 Science - Students compare water samples from the campus pond to those in the Passaic River — which the pond flows into — to understand how campus activity impacts the water quality.
Grade 6 Science - NA’s Sustainable House serves as a hub for 6th grade science classes in which students engage in experiential, project-based learning.
Grade 8 English - After penning personal reflections and speeches rooted in the environment, students are asked to seal their work in time capsules that are buried beside saplings and revisit them as alumni.
Upper School
Marine Biology - Students participate in fieldwork in which they sample, dissect and critically interpret scientific information to explore the connections between sustainability and fisheries, aquaculture and water pollution.
English - Sustainability is included as a topic of conversations and analysis in dystopian works like Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Art - Willie Cole, a renowned sculptor and upcycler, served as the school’s Signature Speaker and held a six-week artist-in-residency in Fall 2024 to guide students through the creation of one of his signature water bottle chandeliers — made entirely from 4,000 recycled plastic 16-oz. water bottles.
IB Economics - Students extensively examine topics like poverty traps, Tragedy of Commons, and externalities through an economic development lens.
Sustainable Spaces
Catherine and Frank Petrello Upper School Academic Center - Built in 2012, this wing within the Upper School was certified as LEED Gold certified and served as the template for sustainable building in every subsequent facilities renovation.
Kaltenbacher Hall & Bamboo Wood - All the trim in Kaltenbacher Hall, from the doors to the paneling to the floor, is made from bamboo wood. Bamboo wood, which can also be found throughout the entire school, is a much more sustainable option than any tree wood because the life cycle of bamboo is much shorter. This means it takes fewer resources, less water and less energy to harvest bamboo.
HVAC Systems - Throughout the school, including in th Advancement and Communications Suite, energy-efficient HVAC systems showcase high air exchange rates, cycling air out of the building and replacing it with fresh outdoor air to keep the air quality extremely clean. Every HVAC system in the school works through the Building Management System (BMS).
LED Lights & Light Harvesting in Classrooms - Light harvesting is a standard in updated Newark Academy classrooms that have windows in order to maximize natural light usage and reduce energy consumption. When windows are providing enough natural light to brighten the room, photosensors dim the interior lights.
Recycled Textile in Front Hallway - The new carpeting in the front hallway actually isn’t a traditional carpet. It’s a resilient textile made with very high amounts of recycled content that are specifically designed to absorb noise and last forever in areas with high foot traffic.
Low-Flow Faucets and Toilet Fixtures - All updated bathrooms are equipped with low-flow faucets and low-flow toilets with touchless sensors. The low-flow toilet fixtures help reduce water waste by using just 1.5 gallons of water instead of the traditional 5 gallons.
Rubber Cork Flooring - Instead of conventional tile, this flooring combines rapidly renewable cork and recycled rubber. The acoustic properties of the rubber cork flooring help absorb foot traffic noise to keep the space quiet for high-level learning.
Low-Emitting Materials - Everything from the adhesives and paints to the sealants, caulks and flooring that is used in all new construction at Newark Academy is low-emitting for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This helps to keep harmful chemicals out of the environment and maintain safer air quality for students, faculty and staff. Spotted above: The Middle School Commons.
Native Plant Species - The Operations Department prioritizes the planting of native species around Newark Academy’s 68-acre campus. This helps with water conservation as there is no need for irrigation since native plants are meant to live in the area and can thrive naturally. Spotted Above: Bloom Courtyard.
Upper School Science Wing & Fume Hoods - In the US science wing, because of the use of chemicals during experiments, there are university-grade, state-of-the-art fume hoods that work in conjunction with Merve 13 HVAC systems to replace indoor air with 100 percent fresh outdoor air an impressive 10–12 times an hour, keeping the air quality of the environment clean as well as safe.
