By Donald Gilpin

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is focusing on a greener future and has been working on a number of sustainability initiatives, including white roofs, heat pumps, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and new high efficiency boilers.

The district reports that by the end of the summer five of the six PPS schools will have almost 100 percent white roofing, which reflects more sunlight, absorbs less heat than traditional black roofs, and reduces the need for air conditioning. PPS began the transition to white roofs five years ago.

“These changes represent significant cost savings and underscore our dedication to being stewards of the environment,” said Acting Superintendent Kathie Foster, as quoted in a PPS press release. “We are committed to providing students and staff with healthy buildings and environmentally conscious learning spaces.”

PPS will be installing heat pumps at all of the elementary schools as part of the PSEG Direct Install Program, providing heat in the cold months and cooling in the warm months. In addition to the heat pumps, three energy-efficient gas boilers will be installed at each of the four elementary schools and electric HVAC systems at Littlebrook and Johnson Park elementary schools.

The state-of-the-art new HVAC systems will consume less energy than the outdated systems they replace, and the high-efficiency new boilers will minimize fuel waste and meet needs in an environmentally responsible manner.

The roof work has been funded by the 2022 referendum, and approximately 75 percent of the heating and cooling projects will be funded by PSEG’s Direct install Program. The district is expecting to pay about $545,664 of the predicted $2.145M total cost of the project.

“All of this work, from turning off lights to upgrading equipment and roofs, is vital to lowering the district’s energy footprint,” said Sustainable Princeton Program Manager Jenny Ludmer, who has been working with PPS on the efficiency improvements.

“Two-thirds of our local greenhouse gas emission production comes from heating, cooling, and electrifying our buildings, so if every property owner made energy efficiency improvements like these, they could lower their annual costs and help to reduce Princeton’s carbon footprint,” she added.

Ludmer noted that the PPS energy efficiency initiatives would result in a significant reduction in annual energy expenses. “We’re looking forward to seeing how that impact works out,” she said. “And solar is right around the corner for all the schools, now that the roof work is completed.”

Small businesses and nonprofits are also eligible for the PSEG Direct Install Program, in which customers achieve significant energy savings in paying as little as 20 percent of the total costs. The Bank of Princeton, Penn Medicine, Princeton Public Library, the Whole Earth Center, and Princeton Orthopedics are among the businesses and nonprofits who have already taken advantage of this program.

PPS has also launched a behavior-based campaign known as the Energy-Saving Showdown, with students and staff participating in competitions to reduce energy use. Littlebrook Elementary School won the district-wide challenge last spring in reducing its energy consumption by more than 10 percent under the leadership of Littlebrook STEAM teacher Martha Friend.

Summer Programs

For about 500 PPS students, the summer has provided a vacation, but also opportunities for learning and growth, strengthening skills in a variety of subjects as part of the Extended School Year (ESY) program.

Princeton Middle School’s ESY program helped students improve their literacy and math skills in addition to providing social opportunities, recreational outings, and guidance for reading.

A week-long Dual Language Immersion Camp in early July gave about 40 students in grades 1-5 an opportunity to practice their Spanish and learn about Spanish-speaking countries. Soccer and swimming were also on the agenda.

About 88 Princeton High School (PHS) juniors and seniors worked on writing their college essays in the Evolution of the College Essay course under the guidance of the High School Counseling Department, and an intensive math program for rising ninth, 10th, and 11th grade students allowed 70 students to learn a year’s worth of geometry, algebra 2, or precalculus in only six weeks. The students must pass a proficiency test to move to the next level.

Rising ninth graders sharpened their scientific knowledge as they examined environmental themes and served as mentors to sixth graders in a one-week summer bridge program, while 34 rising 10th graders pursued advanced coursework in the accelerated summer chemistry program.
At Princeton Public Library six PHS students led STEM activities for 30 elementary students as part of PPS summer STEM.