Submitted by The Olympia School District
Olympia School District named a ‘Green District Leader’
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has named the Olympia School District a “Green District Leader” for its achievements in reducing environmental impact, increasing energy efficiency and providing a healthy school environment. The OSD is one of just four districts statewide recognized for its Green Leadership.
On Thursday, June 27 representatives from OSPI, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and E3 Washington presented awards to the Green District Leaders, as well as five schools named recipients of the 2013 “Green Ribbon Schools” awards. OSPI selected districts and schools for the honors based on their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health through a healthy school environment and ensure effective environmental education. Six Olympia School District schools are active Washington Green Schools with Green Teams who work to reach goals of environmental stewardship.
Being named a Green District Leader is just the latest way the Olympia School District has been recognized this year for its efforts in the areas of conservation and energy improvements. Earlier this year 13 of the district’s schools were awarded Energy Star Certification for achieving energy efficiency greater than 75 percent of schools in the nation. Only 15 other school districts in Washington have more than one Energy Star school.
In March OSPI selected the Olympia School District as the recipient of a $241,700 Jobs Now Grant for Energy Efficiency. The grant will be used to make a number of energy-efficiency improvements, including installation of a new heating and ventilation system at Hansen Elementary, water-saving irrigation improvements at Capital High School and installation of solar panels at Roosevelt Elementary School. The solar panels, which were funded in part by local LLC OlySol in a Community Solar partnership, will generate the equivalent of about $5,000 worth of electricity each year.
