The Lucy School in Middletown was nominated for a Green Ribbon Schools Award. One of Maryland's four most eco-friendly schools, its campus was designed with environmental sustainability in mind.Scroll over the red circles for more information about energy efficient features.
New School Building
Recycled Wood
84 percent of the wood used in the decking, columns, and trim was reused, recycled, or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Eco-friendly Insulation
Instead of using environmentally-damaging insulation, the building is insulated with denim and recycled newspapers.
"Solatubes"
Every room has tubes that bring sunlight from the roof to darker corners.
Rooftop Garden
A rooftop garden collects and filters rainwater. Half of the rooftop water goes to flushing the building’s dual-flush toilets. The rest goes into a 2400-gallon cistern.
School Property
The Lucy School was built on 17 acres of land once used for farming. The land includes woods, a pond and a wetland area, which children explore during their environmental education classes.
New Trees
The school’s students planted some of the property’s trees and gardens. Last year, The Lucy School students, parents, and community members planted over 200 trees in the area.
Original Wood
The wood support beams were the barn’s original pillars. Many of the walls and support structures are made from what used to be the barn’s floor.
Power Sources
43 percent of the property’s electricity comes from solar panels coming from the school’s "solar shed." The remaining power comes from wind energy.
Cleaning Supplies
The building is cleaned with natural, non-bleach-based cleaning products.
Windows
Large windows bring in natural sunlight, which stimulates brain activity and reduces the amount of electrical power needed to light the building.
Art Projects
Students use recycled material to make art projects, which are an essential part of the school's curriculum.
