school district 27's green role

1
October 2011 October 2011 October 2011 October 2011 www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca Page Page Page Page 17 17 17 17 THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE A recent survey conducted by School District 27’s Environmental Stewardship Committee, reaching all of District 27’s schools, will bring partici- pants closer to a greener more sustainable way of life. The survey focused on how each school performs in terms of energy con- sumption, waste, water, transportation, school grounds, and green participation. Out of the 28 schools participating in the survey, Big Lake Elementary, achieving Green School Status from the Seeds Foundation, proved to be the greenest of the schools with high marks in all areas, including its own green team that in- cludes students, teachers, and staff. All schools did well with using environmentally friendly cleaning prod- ucts. All but one school had a recycling program in place. With only six out of 28 schools offering water conservation pro- grams, this is one area in need of im- provement. Others include waste-free lunches, anti-idling programs, and dou- ble-sided printing policies. Heating and cooling systems are one of the largest energy consumers in schools. Even small changes in system efficiency can yield large savings to a school operation budget, as well as a re- duction in greenhouse gases. With this in mind, the committee is also developing and implementing green energy projects that include high effi- ciency mechanical systems such as a geo- thermal heat pump at the 108 Mile Ele- mentary School. Williams Lake Secon- dary will also receive a condensing boiler system, and a solar wall. Other projects in the district include solar hot water sys- tems and biomass boiler systems. The Board of Trustees has re- ceived recommendations to move aggres- sively towards an anti-idling program across the entire school bus fleet. In 2010, the operation of school buses pro- duced 1,291.56 tonnes of CO2e emis- sions. Lighting also accounts for nearly half the electric bills in most schools. Currently the District is collaborating with BC Hydro to perform a lighting au- dit and redesign study to reduce electrical energy consumption in Williams Lake Secondary School. During the 2010 year District 27 produced 4,688.41 tonnes of CO2e. The district purchased 3,396.85 tonnes CO2e equivalent offsets from the Pacific Car- bon Trust. The purchase fulfils the Dis- trict’s commitment to be carbon neutral during the year, and compliant with the Greenhouse Gas Targets Act, as required by the Carbon Neutral Government Regulation. The Environmental Stewardship Committee’s first meeting took place in School Districts 27’s Green Role School Districts 27’s Green Role School Districts 27’s Green Role School Districts 27’s Green Role May, 2010, committing to maintaining the highest levels of education for all stu- dents while being socially responsible and employing environmentally sustain- able practices. The committee promotes and sup- ports environmental responsibility through the following core operation val- ues: Awareness of how our actions af- fect our environment. Accountability of students and staff to support healthy and natural environments for current and fu- ture generations. Appreciation of how any actions, large or small, will have a positive effect on students and the environ- ment. Actions that create a positive learn- ing environment while reducing greenhouse gas production and increasing social responsibility. The vision is supported by the BC Energy Plan, which sets out a strategy to encourage British Columbians to take responsibility for our climate and envi- ronment. By Teena Clipston Solar panels on elementary school at 108 Mile House in Chilcotin-Cariboo district (installed by Pro Eco Energy) Solar panels on elementary school at 150 Mile House in Chilcotin-Cariboo district (installed by Pro Eco Energy)

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Page 1: School District 27's Green Role

October 2011October 2011October 2011October 2011 www.thegreengazette.cawww.thegreengazette.cawww.thegreengazette.cawww.thegreengazette.ca Page Page Page Page 17171717

THEGREENGAZETTETHEGREENGAZETTETHEGREENGAZETTETHEGREENGAZETTE

A recent survey conducted by School District 27’s Environmental

Stewardship Committee, reaching all of

District 27’s schools, will bring partici-

pants closer to a greener more sustainable way of life.

The survey focused on how each

school performs in terms of energy con-sumption, waste, water, transportation,

school grounds, and green participation.

Out of the 28 schools participating in the survey, Big Lake Elementary, achieving

Green School Status from the Seeds

Foundation, proved to be the greenest of

the schools with high marks in all areas, including its own green team that in-

cludes students, teachers, and staff.

All schools did well with using environmentally friendly cleaning prod-

ucts. All but one school had a recycling

program in place. With only six out of 28 schools offering water conservation pro-

grams, this is one area in need of im-

provement. Others include waste-free

lunches, anti-idling programs, and dou-ble-sided printing policies.

Heating and cooling systems are

one of the largest energy consumers in schools. Even small changes in system

efficiency can yield large savings to a

school operation budget, as well as a re-

duction in greenhouse gases. With this in mind, the committee is

also developing and implementing green

energy projects that include high effi-ciency mechanical systems such as a geo-

thermal heat pump at the 108 Mile Ele-

mentary School. Williams Lake Secon-dary will also receive a condensing boiler

system, and a solar wall. Other projects

in the district include solar hot water sys-

tems and biomass boiler systems. The Board of Trustees has re-

ceived recommendations to move aggres-

sively towards an anti-idling program across the entire school bus fleet. In

2010, the operation of school buses pro-

duced 1,291.56 tonnes of CO2e emis-sions.

Lighting also accounts for nearly

half the electric bills in most schools.

Currently the District is collaborating with BC Hydro to perform a lighting au-

dit and redesign study to reduce electrical

energy consumption in Williams Lake Secondary School.

During the 2010 year District 27

produced 4,688.41 tonnes of CO2e. The

district purchased 3,396.85 tonnes CO2e equivalent offsets from the Pacific Car-

bon Trust. The purchase fulfils the Dis-

trict’s commitment to be carbon neutral during the year, and compliant with the

Greenhouse Gas Targets Act, as required

by the Carbon Neutral Government Regulation.

The Environmental Stewardship

Committee’s first meeting took place in

School Districts 27’s Green RoleSchool Districts 27’s Green RoleSchool Districts 27’s Green RoleSchool Districts 27’s Green Role

May, 2010, committing to maintaining the highest levels of education for all stu-

dents while being socially responsible

and employing environmentally sustain-

able practices. The committee promotes and sup-

ports environmental responsibility

through the following core operation val-ues:

• Awareness of how our actions af-

fect our environment.

• Accountability of students and

staff to support healthy and natural

environments for current and fu-ture generations.

• Appreciation of how any actions,

large or small, will have a positive

effect on students and the environ-

ment.

• Actions that create a positive learn-

ing environment while reducing greenhouse gas production and

increasing social responsibility.

The vision is supported by the BC Energy Plan, which sets out a strategy to

encourage British Columbians to take

responsibility for our climate and envi-ronment.

By Teena Clipston

Solar panels on elementary school at 108

Mile House in Chilcotin-Cariboo district

(installed by Pro Eco Energy)

Solar panels on elementary school at 150

Mile House in Chilcotin-Cariboo district

(installed by Pro Eco Energy)