Poly’s sustainability initiatives are continuing to move in a positive direction, turning ambitious environmental goals into measurable campus successes. This year, climate-minded students found many successes, from cutting vehicle trips to campus to restoring local ecosystems.
A primary focus this year was curbing campus car trips through the Drive Less Initiative. Director of Sustainability Laura Fleming shared, “Trips to campus were reduced by about 10%, keeping the school comfortably beneath the city cap.”
To limit greenhouse gas emissions and nearby congestion, the city of Pasadena has capped Poly to 743 vehicles during drop-off hours. If Poly falls out of compliance, the city could deny permits, limit enrollment or issue fines. While Poly exceeded the cap last year, the Drive Less Initiative helped reduce trips to 665 and 690 in the spring and fall, respectively, this year. Participation in Bike, Walk, and Roll Day on Wednesday, May 6 also increased by 28% since last year. While the drop in car trips was a major win, Fleming emphasized that this momentum must continue.
“Our community cannot be complacent, and we must continue working to reduce the number of vehicles coming to campus,” she said.
Nevertheless, ongoing challenges persist. For example, Poly’s gas pool heater remains a major emissions source on campus. Still, Fleming is working to expand Poly’s solar panel infrastructure. Since their installation last year, the panels on the gyms have already returned 20% of the initial investment.
Administrators are currently discussing the next phase of solar construction. Fleming shared that future expansions could include adding solar panels to various locations in the middle school including on top of the roofs of the Booth and Munger buildings, the Dining Commons and the North Campus library.
She noted, “Our goal is to have funding in place to install the second phase of solar in the 2026-2027 school year.”
Despite their efforts, Poly still lacks a formal commitment to reach net zero emissions.
Another aspect of Poly’s climate action is using native plants to revitalize Arden lawn on the South Campus. Previously, the area was made up of compacted soil and patchy grass, causing water to dangerously pool underneath the Boswell building while plants struggled to survive.
To breathe life back into Arden, project leaders Michele Antenorcruz and Carol Plotkin of CPMA Landscape Design focused on soil rejuvenation this year. They chose to leave fallen leaves in place to decompose, providing a natural fertilizer, and prioritized using sustainable building materials for the benches and the tables.
Senior Amelie Salette, a student leader in the Arden Lawn renovation, shared, “We wanted to create a welcoming space for students and faculty to enjoy while providing opportunities to learn about native plants and rewilding. Seeing people from all across campus use Arden everyday, from classes meeting in the amphitheater to students having lunch or sharing tables during Study Hall, shows me that our lawn has become an inviting place like we envisioned.”
The ecological turnaround has already transformed how students and faculty interact with the space. Sophomore Benjamin Brady, one of the many community members who spends time on Arden Lawn during lunchtime, shared, “I just like sitting in an open, natural space, and I’m happy that Poly has invested in making our campus both beautiful and sustainable.”
