Sustainability
Duchesne Academy received national recognition in 2020 as US Department of Education Green Ribbon School. The school’s sustainability efforts took root in the 2016-2017 academic year following the May 2015 release of “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology. At Duchesne, sustainability is not just an academic concept, but rather a community-wide commitment to improving the school and the broader world in which we live. As a Sacred Heart school guided by the “Goals and Criteria” of Sacred Heart Education, our charism calls “all members of the school community [to] accept accountability for the care of God’s creation, practice effective stewardship of the earth’s resources and work to alleviate the climate crisis” (Goal III, Criterion 4).
Sustainability Goals:
If you have any questions about the sustainability program at Duchesne, please contact:
Mr. Eric Krakowski
Assistant Principal, Exchange, and Sustainability Coordinator
ekrakowski@duchesneacademy.org
402.810.9979
Special Recognitions
![Energy Star Certification]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721758094/duchesneacademyorg/lgwdhpgwdozt8hliljh6/Untitleddesign57.png","width":200}])
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about Energy Star Certification
![Eco-Friendly Schools Award Recipient]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721757069/duchesneacademyorg/ffu3q3xs3az6kulecrds/8.jpg","width":200}])
Eco-Friendly Schools Award Recipient
Recognized by Hillside Solutions with the 2023 “Eco-Friendly Schools Award.”
![Keep Nebraska Beautiful Award Winner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756877/duchesneacademyorg/bi3tqzfbukobtdubqpz2/KeepNebraskaBeautifulRibbon.jpg","width":200}])
Received the 2022 Keep Nebraska Beautiful awards for first place in two categories.
![US Department of Education Green Ribbon School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756819/duchesneacademyorg/ejobevk81o1diyxq3jbb/GreenRibbon.jpg","width":200}])
Received the prestigious recognition of “US Department of Education Green Ribbon School” in 2020, one of only 39 schools nationwide to receive the honor that year.
![G7 Eco-Citizens Contest Winner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756736/duchesneacademyorg/jdkpjq8fr31pos4ugsow/Ecocitizen.jpg","width":200}])
Recognized by the French Embassy in the United States as one of three winners of the 2019 G7 Eco-Citizen contest.
![First school in Omaha to install solar panel array]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756674/duchesneacademyorg/qwhen7mgufzvfca7aiz1/solarpanels.jpg","width":200}])
Became the first school in Omaha to install a solar panel array.
![Caring for Creation in Catholic Schools Conference Host]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756629/duchesneacademyorg/tzfxy7aym1j56la0jyf0/Conference.jpg","width":200}])
Hosted the first “Caring for Creation in Catholic Schools Conference”.
![Green Star from Ignatian Solidarity Network]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756580/duchesneacademyorg/klkgzqljb8io8skj12p5/GreenStar.jpg","width":200}])
Earned a “Green Star” from the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
![First school in Omaha to launch composting program]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721756532/duchesneacademyorg/kaizylj6o6hvwwic86uo/Compostingprogram.jpg","width":200}])
First school in Omaha to launch composting program
Recognized as the first school in the city of Omaha to launch a composting program (September 2017)
Ongoing Successes
- Achieved the school goal of “Zero Waste” by diverting over 91% of waste away from the landfill in November 2022. Since the school began tracking waste data in 2018, the Duchesne community averages a diversion rate of over 80% on any given week.
- As of June 2024, nearly 50 MWh of clean energy have been produced through the on-campus solar array, the carbon offset equivalent of planting over 650 trees.
- Duchesne partnered with Goodwill Industries “Good Bytes” program in 2018 and 2023 to collect over 7000 pounds of used electronics for recycling.
- Since 2018, Duchesne’s annual Christmas Light Collection Drive has partnered with Scrap Central, Inc. to collect over 3500 pounds of used Christmas lights for recycling.