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Success Story: The Evergreen School
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The Evergreen School
Recycling booth at the school’s first Conservation Carnival. The carnival was created by fourth and fifth grade students to teach kindergarten through third grade students about waste reduction and reuse, recycling, composting, energy and water conservation. |
School Location: Shoreline, Washington
Participation in the Green Schools Program: 2003–2005
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Students helped Green Schools Program staff to quantify the amount of recyclable materials, food waste and disposable products used during lunch time, and made recommendations for waste reduction improvements
- Plastic utensils were banned from delivered and packed lunches
- Students use durable utensils and mugs
- Residual food waste from school lunches is composted in an on-site composting system
- Increased recycling required the upsizing of the recycling dumpster from 1.8 cubic yards per month to 4 cubic yards per month
- The school’s computer staff initiated a program to accept electronics from the school community for use in teaching students about computer repair, and to assure the safe recycling of all units brought to the school
Water Conservation
- The students observed and gathered data on water use, including hand-washing habits, and made recommendations for how much water could be saved if students changed their behavior – for instance, by turning off water while soaping up
- Low flow sinks and toilets are in use throughout the school
- An efficient irrigation system is in place for the school’s play fields
Energy Conservation
- The school’s heating and ventilation system was re-commissioned
- Thermostats were reset
- A faulty pump was identified and replaced
- Natural gas use dropped from 23 therms per month to 15.3 therms per month between August 2001 and April 2004
- Solar power is being researched for possible implementation
Environmental Education
Upper classes (grades 4 and 5) designed and led a “conservation carnival” to educate younger students. They developed hands-on materials and games for booths on food waste composting, recycling, reuse, energy conservation and water conservation
Awards
The Evergreen School received the King County Green Globe Leader in Sustainable Schools Award in 2005 for its outstanding efforts to expand conservation practices and raise awareness among students and staff about the importance of stewardship practices.
For more information about this school’s participation in the King County Green Schools Program, contact:
Janet Charnley
E-mail: jcharnley@evergreenschool.org
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