CFIS Charges Toward a Greener Future

CFIS Charges Toward a Greener Future with New Eco Bus and Sustainability Initiatives

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and the dedication behind this initiative, CFIS is charging toward a greener future!

The newest addition to our sustainability efforts, an eco-friendly bus, has officially hit the road. Our student-led Jörd Sustainability Committee was the first to take it for a spin around town, celebrating with a well-earned ice cream. With this new electric bus, CFIS is taking a significant step in reducing its carbon footprint while continuing to lead the way in environmental responsibility.

The e-Bus includes a winter package, ensuring optimal battery performance even in cold weather. Our newly installed charger supports a maximum charge rate of 14.5kW, allowing the bus to reach full charge in approximately 8 hours. With a range of up to 150 miles, this sustainable vehicle is well-equipped for CFIS transportation needs.

Sustainability at CFIS: A School-Wide Commitment
Environmental stewardship is a core pillar of Round Square, and sustainability initiatives thrive at CFIS at every level. From infrastructure upgrades to hands-on learning, our students, staff, and community are committed to making a difference.

Eco-Friendly Classrooms
Two of our toddler classrooms are now outfitted with certified B Corp furnishings from Natural Pod, a company dedicated to sustainability and student well-being. These eco-conscious designs create a nurturing and environmentally responsible learning environment.

Greener Technology
We have successfully migrated all on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, allowing us to power down numerous servers and significantly reduce energy consumption. This move cuts HVAC usage for server cooling, lowering our environmental footprint while maintaining high-performance IT operations. By embracing cloud technology, we are enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

Energy-Efficient Lighting
CFIS is well in motion towards converting all school lighting to LED. This initiative will significantly reduce energy consumption and contribute to a more sustainable campus environment.

Paperless Progress
Our HR and payroll onboarding process is now almost entirely digital, reducing paper usage by up to 80%. Offer letters, contracts, and benefit enrolments are all completed electronically, cutting down on printing and increasing efficiency.

Growing Green: CFIS Gardens
Our school’s gardens are flourishing, providing students with hands-on opportunities to connect with nature and learn about sustainable food production.

• Vegetable Garden: Now entering its third growing season, our garden has produced carrots, onions, zucchini, lavender, mint, borage, beets, and potatoes. This year, a new partnership between our secondary Jörd Committee and elementary gardening clubs (Grades 1/2 and 3/4) will deepen younger students’ involvement in planting, tending, and harvesting.
• Native Garden: Thanks to a grant from the Alberta Native Plant Council (ANPC) and parent expert Victoria Bohm, CFIS has established three native plant gardens around campus. These gardens promote biodiversity, provide hands-on educational opportunities, and contribute to local ecosystem health.

Thriving Beehives
CFIS is home to two thriving beehives on our secondary patio, which last year yielded an impressive 50 kg of honey! Students and staff have the opportunity to be trained in beekeeping, learning firsthand about the critical role pollinators play in our ecosystem.

CFIS students prove they can do anything—from driving sustainability to leading the way for a brighter, eco-friendly future. We’re amped for the many adventures ahead in our new eco-friendly ride!