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Natural Resource Conservation |
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Conservation News
& Announcements
(email your conservation news
to us so we can share it with others!)
01/25/08
Shared Savings Program 2006/07 Awards Announced
Thanks to the help of
custodians, teachers, principals, students, and community members
we are proud to announce the recipients of the 2006/07 Shared
Savings Awards. Click
here to view a complete list of winning schools.
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01/16/08
T-Shirt Design Contest Participant Recognition
Ceremony
Article at
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/conservation/seattlecan_tshirt.html.
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12/4/07
Anti-Idling Policy is Adopted at JSCEE
The Seattle Public Schools
Maintenance Department is working towards protecting public health
and conserving resources by committing to reduce vehicle
idling. In addition to maintenance vehicles, idling is no
longer permitted in the parking lots at the Stanford
Center.
Vehicle exhaust is the leading
source of hazardous air pollution in Washington. According to
the American Lung Association, toxic air pollutants account for an
additional 700 cases of cancer for every 1 million
Washingtonians. That’s nearly 375 people in Seattle
alone! Idling is also bad for our kids. Asthma is the
most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most
school absences. Their symptoms increase as a result of
vehicle exhaust.
Contrary to popular belief,
idling is not an effective way to warm up a vehicle.
Excessive idling is actually hard on your engine because it
isn’t working at peak operating temperature and fuel does not
undergo complete combustion. Driving warms up vehicles more
efficiently. Frequent restarting has little impact on engine
components like the battery and starter motor. Small costs in
component maintenance will likely be recovered several times over
in fuel savings.
If you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds, remember to turn
your engine off!
Related
Articles-
http://www.airwatchnorthwest.org/anti-idling.htm
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10/31/07
Green Pumpkins are Great Pumpkins at Summit School
A Seattle public school’s
6th grade class gave Halloween a green twist this year – or
more accurately a green “twisty”. As part of a
lesson on energy efficiency, Marty Christianson’s students at
Summit School carved pumpkins outfitted with the new mini, compact
fluorescent “twisty” bulbs.
The “green” jack o’lanterns were all lit up when
Seattle City Light conservation specialist Anne Ducey spoke to the
class October 30th . “We’re entering the peak
energy-use season in the Northwest. Even though children
don’t pay the power bills, they are energy consumers, and
will be for a lot longer than any grown ups, so I think it’s
important to make them aware of what they can do to save
energy,” says Ducey. “I hope they will think
about it every day.”
She adds that the city of Seattle’s new Twist &
Save program makes this an especially good time to start using
compact fluorescents. In partnership with City Light, dozens
of stores in Seattle and King County are selling Energy Star CF
bulbs at some of the lowest prices ever. The deals will last
through 2008, and bulbs can be purchased without coupons or rebate
forms. “If home and business owners make some changes
now, they will have lower power bills this winter,” assures
Ducey who says she’s hoping Ms. Christianson’s students
suggested their light bulb trick as a Halloween treat for their
parents.
-Related
Articles-
http://www.seattle.gov/twistandsave
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10/21/07
Goats Help Clean Up Invasive Plants at Gatewood
With a strong focus on
environmental education, stewardship and science, Gatewood
Elementary School hosted around 60 weed-eating goats on Oct. 18-21.
The goats helped clear overgrown ivy and blackberry bushes as part
of the school’s playground renovation project, Operation
Imagination. The Gatewood PTA, in partnership with Local
Union 609 and SPS Grounds staff, sponsored this event after many
attempts to address years of overgrowth.
Now that the invasive groundcovers and thorny bushes that cover
the steep hillsides in the west and south areas of the school are
cleared, volunteers will remove the remaining roots (without
pesticides), plant more environmentally friendly trees, lay down
recycled burlap (donated by Starbucks) and spread mulch.
Gatewood principal Rhonda Claytor said “Gatewood is a school
that actively teaches environmental stewardship and learning by
doing. As an educational community that embraces a holistic
approach to learning and service we are excited about the positive
impact this entire project has on children and helping them become
active stewards for our environment.
”Operation Imagination began about three years ago
when a group of PTA parents, students, and community volunteers
came together to plan and renovate the school’s playground
and equipment. The plans include a multi-generational learning
garden, student art on the entryways, a second play structure for
older children who use the playground, a new playfield, and new
trees.
The group has received funds from the city’s Small and Simple
Grant Program and a $90,000 matching grant from the city’s
Department of Neighborhoods. The majority of matching funds will be
met through volunteer time and labor. A group of parents and
Seattle Public Schools gardeners have been gathering for cleanup
weekend parties and have logged almost 500 hours.
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09/27/07
SPS Climate Action Now T-Shirt Design Contest
Launched
As part of current efforts to
raise awareness about climate change solutions, we are pleased to
announce the launch of the SPS Climate Action Now T-Shirt Design
Contest. The contest, co-sponsored by the City of Seattle,
offers an opportunity for students to convey their ideas about
climate change solutions. All Seattle Public School District K - 12
students are eligible to participate.
The winning design will be featured on Seattle Climate Action Now
t-shirts! Additionally, twelve honorable mention designs will
be featured in a 2008 Seattle Climate Action Now calendar.
Entries must be received no later than 5:00pm, November 9th.
Early Bird submissions (those received before October 26th) will be
eligible for display at the Mayor's National Climate Protection
Summit. For more information about the contest, click
here.
-Related
Articles-
http://www.seattlecan.org
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06/21/07
School Board Commits to Effort to Reduce Greenhouse
Gasses
The Seattle School Board
unanimously adopted a resolution during its regular meeting on June
20 that directs Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to become a member of
the Seattle Climate Partnership. The Partnership,
which includes government, higher education, and private sector
organizations, is committed to reducing greenhouse gases that
contribute to global warming.
The Seattle Climate Partnership is a voluntary agreement among
local organizations to find ways to reach Seattle’s
community-wide goal of meeting or exceeding a 7 percent reduction
in greenhouse gases by 2012, based on 1990 emissions levels. The
resolution’s adoption makes Seattle Public Schools the first
public K-12 school district to become a Seattle Climate Partnership
member.
“This partnership demonstrates to staff, students, families
and the community that Seattle Public Schools values the
environment,” said Irene Stewart, chair of the School Board
Operations Committee. “By reducing greenhouse gases that harm
our ecosystems, we increase the likelihood that our children and
grandchildren will inherit a healthy earth with fewer environmental
problems.”
The board resolution calls for each SPS
department to develop an action plan with measurable goals and
identified steps that will help Seattle Public Schools reduce
greenhouse gases. Each action plan should include “a
cost/benefit analysis adequate to ensure that these plans will be
implemented in a manner that does not reduce resources available
for learning and teaching or district operations,” the
resolution states.
Actions that SPS is considering include partnerships with utility
companies to obtain rebates on new construction and building
upgrades that are energy and/or water efficient; and educating
staff and students on what they can do in their own work and
classroom spaces to reduce greenhouse gas and resource use.
The board resolution follows adoption last year of a strong board
policy on Natural Resources Conservation, which has
resulted in an estimated 3.5 percent total reduction in utilities
for the 2006-2007 school year, a cost savings of $342,700.
In addition, the district has reduced the use of fossil fuels by
8.6 percent this year or 1,266 metric tons of C02. This represents
25 percent of the 4,908 metric tons of CO2 the district has
voluntarily committed to reduce, meeting the Kyoto Protocol.
“SPS staff members and students have embraced the need to
implement resource conservation measures,” said
Superintendent Raj Manhas. “Some creative, practical, and
sustainable ideas have been implemented.”
Some of the actions the district has taken to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, meet the reduction in CO2 goals and conserve natural
resources, include:
*Changing the heating and cooling set points to
reflect a broader temperature range. This significantly reduces
electricity and natural gas consumption district-wide. In addition,
heating and cooling schedules have been adjusted to more closely
reflect school operating hours and staff schedules.
*Performing mechanical upgrades
on operating equipment to increase efficiency.
*Reducing garbage and recycling pick-ups, which lowers the amount
of greenhouse gases emitted by trucks servicing SPS
facilities.
*Adapting the time that computers automatically shut off
district-wide to align with staff schedules.
*Expanding the student-run composting program, which now includes
Concord, Laurelhurst, Lawton, John Muir and West Woodland
elementary schools, and Salmon Bay K-8.
*More efficient irrigation schedule for sports complexes, which
reduces water use.
courtesy of 6/21/07 SPS News
Release
-Related Articles-
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/318949_climated.html
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06/19/07
West Woodland
Auction Produces Almost No
Waste
In
order to educate and conserve, this message was inside the front
page of West Woodland's auction catalog: In an effort to model what we are teaching our kids
about being stewards of the earth, we are going to have much less
waste at our auction this year. To that end we are collecting all
of the food waste and sending it back to Cedar Grove for them to
create new compost for our gardens (thank you to Cedar Grove for
donating this service). We are using biodegradable cups for beer
and cocktails that will also be turned into compost at Cedar Grove.
All cardboard, paper and plastic we generate on site will be
recycled. By using reusable serve-ware for the plates, silverware
and wine glasses we will further reduce the waste generated. With
all of these actions we will have very little garbage as a result
of our fun evening! Our goal is for all the families at West
Woodland to take this Green Message home and continue to reduce,
reuse and recycle.
courtesy of West Woodland 2007 Auction
Catalog
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06/05/07
Seattle Schools Team Up
to Improve Environment
Chief Sealth High School's Sports and Events Marketing Class has
created a unique environmental project called Project Earth Care,
in which Sealth students work with Denny Middle
and Gatewood Elementary school students on a
project to improve the environment.
Working in conjunction with world renowned nature photographer Art
Wolfe, the pilot project focuses on the revitalization of Pelly
Place ravine, a natural area in West Seattle. Upon completion, the
Pelly Place ravine will be a key link to future trails, pedestrian
greenways and boulevards – complementing and connecting
features of the Green Crescent, both within Morgan Junction and to
other West Seattle neighborhoods. The final piece of the project is
a 20-minute, living history video documentary on the ravine and
surrounding community that traces its evolution over the last 200
years. A companion photographic exhibit, focusing on the
site, will be presented along with the video upon completion of the
project.
The eight Sealth students who are producing the event have been
working with, and mentoring, eight students from Denny Middle
school and more than 100 students from Gatewood Elementary on
various aspects of the project. For more information, contact Gary
Thomsen, teacher at Chief Sealth High School.
courtesy of School Beat 6/5/2007
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05/15/07
Terry Husseiman Sustainable
Schools Award won by 2 SPS Programs
Four Seattle elementary schools
have been awarded grants from the state Department of Ecology to
expand or create composting programs. Muir
Elementary won $1,350 to start a composting program in the
cafeteria. The money will also be used to train fourth- and
fifth-graders to teach other students about recycling, and monitor
students' composting efforts.
Lawton
Elementary, West Woodland Elementary and
Laurelhurst Elementary will share a $1,000 grant
to help expand a composting program developed at Lawton. The three
schools plan to use the money to create a startup kit for other
schools, with step-by-step instructions and seed
money.
courtesy of SeattlePI.com
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05/11/07
Fuel Free
Friday at Lawton
Lawton Elementary launched
their first of many walking school bus Fuel Free Fridays on May
4th. Students were escorted by parents, teachers, and staff from 5
separate locations about a mile from the school. On the inaugural
day there were more than 125 students who walked to school up from
an average of about 50.
Not only did this reduce the amount of pollution and traffic
congestion around the school, but the students arrived at school
refreshed and ready to learn. Before the day had even started our
students already had a good solid 20 minutes of exercise. We also
calculated that there was a fuel savings of at least 125 gallons in
one morning. Imagine the cost savings. One second grader commented
"I used to think walking to school would be really really boring,
and long, and tiring, but it was really FUN!"
courtesy of Lawton Elementary
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04/19/07
2007 King County Earth
Heroes at School Announced
Two Seattle Public Schools were
honored at the April 19, 2007 Earth Heroes at School Awards
Presentation. The schools were honored by King County in the
categories of "Students" and "Programs". The Students Award went to
Clara Manahan, Philip Park, Teal Stannard of West
Woodland Elementary. " These three students were leaders
in establishing West Woodland as the third school in the Seattle
School District to have a lunchroom composting and recycling
program. They conducted research and shared their findings with the
rest of the school; they designed a lesson plan to teach other
students how to sort materials for composting, recycling and
disposal; they monitored for quality control; they did this all
with enthusiasm and passion."
The Programs Award went to the Laurelhurst
Elementary School Lunchroom Composting & Recycling Program.
"Due to the efforts of the fifth grade students and teachers, lunch
room garbage at Laurelhurst Elementary has been reduced by
88%. The fifth graders trained the other students how to
separate their lunch waste for composting and recycling.
Teachers Pat Howard, Grace Dubin, and Kristin Capps and parent
volunteer Mindy McGovern all contributed significantly to
establishing the program, which has demonstrated to the community
that teamwork can have an impact on our environment."
For a complete list of the 2007 Earth Heroes at School Winners, click here.
courtesy of KingCounty.gov
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Updated 3/17/08
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