Resource Conservation
Overview
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) has two Resource Conservation Specialists in the Facilities Operations Department. Their focus is to reduce current utility expenses (electricity, natural gas, water/sewer, and solid waste) through low-cost/no-cost strategies. Seattle Public Schools operates over 9 million square feet of buildings, spends over $8,000,000 every year on utility bills, and uses enough electricity to power about 4,600 residential homes.
Goals
Our work builds on the District’s Natural Resources Conservation Policy H25.00, Natural Resources Conservation Procedures H25.01, and Resolution 2006/2007-18 (Climate Change). Reducing utility use has resulted in savings that enable a greater investment in our core mission of excellence in education.
Current Initiatives
Resource Conservation Specialists work closely with schools, community partners, and other departments to promote a wide range of work. Currently we are focusing on:
- Utility Conservation Programs
- Managing $100,000+ recycling and waste reduction grant
- Assisting 20 schools in implementing voluntary lunchroom compost programs (continuing to support 50 schools with programs already in place)
- Conducting waste reduction pilot projects in 10 schools
- Managing Nutrition Services consultant in evaluation of recyclable/compostable/durable food service ware.
- Benchmarking utility use with the District's Utility Manager database, and with U.S. EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Recent Accomplishments
Below is an example of just some of the recent accomplishments of the Seattle Public School District.
- Install and maintain energy saving software on 15,000+ computers. Avoided costs = $225,000 annually.
- Developed new solid waste contract starting in 2012/13 to encourage waste reduction. Avoided costs = $220,000 annually.
- Right-sized garbage and recycling containers. Avoided costs = $90,000 annually.