School Life

100% Renewable

Our campus and administration buildings receive 100% renewable electricity through CleanPowerSF! If you live in San Francisco you can subscribe to a similar plan for your home or apartment for a relatively low cost. Supporting large scale renewable energy provides a way for all Californians to go green.

Our 24kW solar roof has been in operation since 2015! Our 24kW solar system was installed in 2015 and has been reliably supplying the school with solar power ever since. Located on the roof of the preschool, the system generates about 30MWh of solar electricity a year, which is about 4 times more than an average house will use. How much are we producing today? This month? This year so far? You can see our solar production here and explore the data!

We also have solar and a battery at the Field Station to enhance outdoor STEAM education!

SFS School Bus and Carpools

We recognize that getting to and from school is one of the largest contributors to emissions in our community. Our school bus takes thousands of trips off the road each year, reducing emissions and traffic.

SFS also facilitates carpooling with families who live near each other! This saves time and money, improves the environment, and helps us build a stronger community. If you are interested you can reach out through the Commuter Concierge form on Parent Square or directly with Jennifer Keese-Powell.

Single-Use Plastic Recycling

SFS has a long tradition of separating trash, recycling, and compost starting in preschool. Now we have a ‘fourth bin’ for single use plastic recycling which diverts even more away from the landfill! These materials are fully recycled through our partnership with Ridwell. You can sign up to recycle more at home with our exclusive Ridwell link!

Low-water Landscaping, Water Bottle Filling, and Rainwater Cistern

Our primarily native, low-water landscaping cuts down our water usage. We encourage awareness of water as a resource with our water bottle filler stations that staff and students use as well as our rainwater cistern that is used for watering plants and for STEAM classroom activities.

Helpful Tip! You can monitor your water use, find leaks and protect your home with an automatic shut-off valve. Ask your home insurance if you qualify for discounts on equipment and/ or your insurance premium!

Fossil-Free Campus Planning and Electrification

We are planning for a fossil-fuel free campus by removing our aging natural gas equipment and replacing it with electric appliances at the end of its life. The electric appliances will be powered by our on-site solar and 100% renewable energy from the grid.

You can go fossil-free at home too! Quit Carbon is a local non-profit with resources that can help you make a plan at home!

Air Quality Monitoring

We have both indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring on campus by using our PurpleAir monitors and the PurpleAir network. Through these sensors our school is aware of current conditions and we can change operations as needed for poor air quality days. We also use high quality air filters in our buildings to keep our classroom air as clean as possible. See outdoor air quality conditions at any time!

Neighborhood Cleanups

Through a partnership with Refuse Refuse, our community regularly volunteers for neighborhood clean up events in our lovely Portola neighborhood. This is a way to strengthen our own community with fun events, meet and support our neighbors, and make our environment cleaner and safer.