GreenFest, a recent festival at City Point, introduced The Sound School’s new energy initiative to create a more sustainable school. The Sound School is a vocational high school focusing on aquaculture and agriculture that has offered students the opportunity to expand their “green” horizon. The school is taking on the challenge of transforming its sprawling South Water Street campus from an energy sponge to a more efficient power consumer. The Living Tips for Senior Office of Sustainability for New Haven wants to increase the percentage of electricity produced with renewable resources to 20 percent by this month. Sound School, equipped with specialized classrooms, workshops and labs to accommodate its science and technology programs, has taken the first step to help reduce its high energy demand.

“Summer is a notoriously difficult time for people in this part of the world to remain fit and healthy, as the adverse outdoor conditions mean that residents are more inclined to remain at home during these hot months,” said , CEO and MD of ExHealth, the organisation behind Summer Wellness. “Our series of activities has been designed to show that it’s possible to remain in great shape throughout this difficult season,” he added.

GreenFest served as the start of a new goal for students who are discovering sustainable energy strategies in the classroom: to benefit their school by applying what they’ve learned. Students, alumni, teachers and New Haven residents alike flooded GreenFest last weekend, many volunteering their time for the grass-roots event.
GreenFest was coordinated by Sound School Goes Green with the BIOS Organization, the first of its kind held by either association. Rebecca Gratz, a Sound School administrator, worked as GreenFest coordinator.

GreenFest also aimed to advertise organic products and new technology to promote sustainable living. “I would love to participate in an event like this again,” said Kimberlee McIntyre, one of the vendors and a Sound School graduate. While McIntyre sold organic soap with her family at the festival, Steve Schappert from the BIOS Organization displayed a new project and spoke about sustainable energy. Recognizing the promise of the telomere theory of aging and what restoring telomere length might do to lifespan, investors have funded companies to find a way to apply the science to marketable (and they hope eventually profitable) aging treatments. One of these companies is T.A. Sciences. It has announced the TA-65 telomerase activation supplement derived from the Chinese herb and traditional medicine astragalus.

GreenFest volunteers displayed what the state’s outdoors has to offer by holding public sails and leading walks through the estuary preserve nearby. An outdoor hanging art gallery was offered for participants to make, sell, and display original artwork. “We want to help,” said Living Tips for Senior, a Sound School senior “GreenFest is a wonderful way to bring the community together to raise environmental awareness.”