| Last updated on June 16, 2008 |
 This is an exciting project, and we are determined to make it a reality within the next few years. Any help soliciting manufacturers to donate materials and services, approach companies to propose this project as a prototype site, reach out to other potential funders, people with amazing ideas or expertise, or just help spread the word.
Our strategy is to break the idea down into several projects; this way, we might attract help with a self-standing portion of the whole, while making progress toward our eventual goal. Individual projects might range from the huge (on our scale) $250,000 for a solar roof that will make its own energy to a relatively smaller project, say $15,000 to buy a used diesel bus and convert it to run on waste vegetable oil. Still exciting, but within reach for more volunteers and donors.
We need volunteers from various backgrounds to help with a long-term project. We have a building with a very unique and interesting design. We built a school in an old greenhouse. It's a great space for daylighting--we have some wonderful light space--and some forms of passive solar heat (we were on the Solar Homes Tour last year).
However, we would like to exploit this wonderful opportunity to its full potential. We would like to add incremental improvements, from tightening up the building envelope to adding p/v capacity, solar water & pool heating, and so on--until we achieve energy self-sufficiency. Our thinking is that, by undertaking a series of smaller projects, we can work toward self-sufficiency through a process that is, by itself, sustainable. In this way, the projects also serve as better models of what can be achieved than a monster project (which needs monster funding--although we wouldn't say no to any millionaires out there with a generous heart!). [See our other opportunity listing, the Saints and Angels Challenge, for more details on what we might do with a million bucks!] The most immediate concern is night heat loss (ironically, the building burns the most fossil fuel when no one's using it--then turns off for large parts of the day when the people are there.)It is a fairly old building. We would like to explore ways to store heat, add collection capacity, solar to heat our pool, etc. We also may want to redesign part of the structure to best take advantage of these possibilities (This Old House, Extreme Homes, are you listening?. It's a tall order--but a great idea for a fully off-the-grid school!
We have other projects in mind, too. And there is no end to our imagination: ...small wind system....greywater recycling....composting toilets...who knows what we can accomplish if we do it bit by bit? We are also looking for ways to recycle groundwater (we have a significant groundwater problem, perhaps for irrigation in the gardens the kids maintain, as well as other uses. Volunteers are needed for everything from seeking grants to finding supplies to design and installation. We are a small school and we have made it a point to ground ourselves in the community, serving a large proportion of low-income families in our mix of kids.
The downside is that we have no huge endowment or circle of rich friends to lean on. We do quite well on our own, raising money through our own fundraising (handmade paper and soap, inkjet cartridge recycling) but for a project this size we also need some creative and flexible approaches. We also have an architect and former teacher who has patented a design for a roofing panel system for passive solar heat. She would love to use our school as a prototype if we could find an interested backer. If any of these prospects intrigue you, this is the project for you! Please also visit our agency listing to learn more about our school (click below on the link to The Greenhouse School). Also check out our other opportunities. For an enrollment application or other info not available here, please contact the school directly through contacts below.
For the more sophisticated aspects of such a project, volunteers would need some sort of design or building expertise. However, many tasks will involve simple commitments where enthusiasm for the idea and the school are the main ingredients. Tasks as simple as working up budgets for smaller projects could be done virtually, by those with experience in a given field. We would love to have a compendium of projects under $10,000 that would help us work toward sustainability. And if you have the funding or can lead us to small grants that would cover small projects, so much the better. The point is to prove that improvements that can be made piecemeal have a positive and lasting impact. We think it's a great idea, and anyone who can help us along our way is welcome. Referring others to this site is a form of volunteering that will help, along with support for the school's various fundraising and other initiatives: supporting the handmade paper project, and so on. The cards are $10 per pack and soaps are $5 each; it wouldn't take too many customers before we could start to fund our first project by ourselves.... We welcome anyone who might help us. You can also help us a lot simply by posting a link to this page on your site, and/or forwarding it to those who might be interested. This opportunity is sponsored by: The Greenhouse School
We need volunteers who are free at these times
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| Occasional |
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This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers
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| Large Group (11+) |
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Contact Person:
Daniel Patrick Welch, Administrative Director, (phone), (email)
Address:
Directions:
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by Public Transportation: take bus #455 from Haymarket. Bus stops directly across from school just past Salem State College South Campus.
by car from Boston: Take route 1 North to route 16 to route 1a, which becomes Loring Avenue upon entering Salem. After large shopping district (Vinnin Square) stay north on 1A. Greenhouse School is appx 1 mile on right, #145 (Greenhouse Building)
by car from 128: Take exit 25 East on route 114. Follow 114 as it winds through Peabody and Salem. At Salem State College Route 114 (Lafayette Street) intersects with Route 1A (Loring Avenue). Take right on Loring Avenue and follow through one large intersection. Greenhouse is apx 200 yds ahead on left, #145.
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Salem Center,
Walk distance (in minutes): 15
Nearest Bus Stop: #455 from Haymarket (stops in front of school), 0 minute walk
For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com |
Web Site: http://www.greenhouseschool.org
Miscellaneous Information
| Does this opportunity serve youth in After-School programs? |
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Yes
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| Is this opportunity available to youth ages 12-17, unaccompanied by an adult? |
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No
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| Would this opportunity be appropriate for corporate groups? |
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Yes
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| Please Choose an Impact Area |
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Sustainable Employment
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Volunteer Reflections
Post Your Own!
Average Rating (5 reflections) 
Overall Experience
Satisfying; it was time well spent.
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We felt that our time spent volunteering at the Greenhouse School on Saturday morning was helpful and greatly appreciated.
posted by Kiwistars on March 3, 2003 |
Overall Experience
An enjoyable day participating in the activities of the Greenhouse School
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Celebrating the Gandhi Day of Service, a day where 11 Asha-MIT volunteers participated in community service, we went to the Greenhouse school on Oct. 5th for a day. It was an interesting day for us to learn about this private school that provides opportunities for children of the working class of Salem/Lynn. We were involved in painting activities, making paper products and selling t-shirts.
Asha volunteers are involved in the field of education in India, and the Greenhouse school gave us a better understanding about the working environment of alternative schools, which cater to the not-so-wealthy.
We all enjoyed our day at the Greenhouse school, and felt good to be part of the school for a day. Dan and Julia welcomed us in the morning, and after talking to us about the school, gave us our tasks to make the day productive. We were quite satisfied with our day and effort.
We all enjoyed our day at the Greenhouse school, and felt good to be part of the school for a day. Dan and Julia welcomed us in the morning, and after talking to us about the school, gave us our tasks to make the day productive. We were quite satisfied with our day and effort.
posted on October 11, 2002 |
Overall Experience
It's nice to see people taking enormous pride in what they do.
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I had an excellent experience. I would strongly recommend it. They have an very fun, hardworking staff. One of the most enjoyable days I've had in a long time made even better by knowing that what I'm doing is making a contribution.
posted on December 15, 2001 |
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