Pilot Schools

Many thanks to our pilot schools who gave us valuable feedback in tuning up the program in time for the statewide launch on August 17, 2009.

*Schools in bold succeeded in achieving Level 1 under the pilot program!

Ellensburg High School, Ellensburg School District, Ellensburg
Assessment: Energy Efficiency

*Franklin Elementary School, Port Angeles School District, Port Angeles
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Water Quality & Conservation

As a pilot Washington Green School, Franklin took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Established a school-wide strategy to make sure space around vents on walls and window sills were kept free of obstruction.
• Established a school-wide strategy for turning off all outside lights during daylight hours
• Developed a program to decrease the uneaten and unopened food in their garbage
• Replaced disposable plates, glasses and cups with durable products in the staff break room.
• Planted drought tolerant landscaping and used resultant compost as a soil amendment
• Purchased art supplies with the AP Seal and the words 'non-toxic'
• Upgraded vacuums to HEPA or one micron filters
• Installed and monitored precipitation gauges and altered the schools irrigation schedule based on level of rainfall

*Holy Rosary School, private school, Seattle
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Energy Efficiency

As a pilot Washington Green School, Holy Rosary took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Established a school-wide strategy for turning off all lights when adequate sunlight was available or when rooms were not in use
• Established a school-wide strategy to turn off (or put to sleep) all computer monitors, peripherals (printers, scanners, etc.) and other electronic equipment (copiers, typewriters, etc.) when not in use
• Performed a skit, puppet show, or another type of entertainment related to energy use and conservation for the school and community members
• Promoted 'waste free lunches throughout the school year
• Setting up a program to compost yard debris from school grounds
• Implemented a no-idling policy for buses and cars at pick-up and drop-off times and requested that delivery vehicles shut off their engines while unloading.

*Lawton Elementary School, Seattle Public Schools, Seattle
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Transportation & Outdoor Air Quality

Lawton Elementary was the first Seattle public school to start up food waste collection service three years ago, in order to reduce methane that affects climate change. As a pilot Washington Green School, they took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Promoted “Walking School Buses”
• Posted conservation reminder stickers and posters around the school to turn off lights and computer/monitor when not in use
• Set standard heating and cooling points for thermostats to 68° F – 70° F during the winter or heating season and 75° F or higher during the summer or cooling season. They also developed a plan to encourage students and staff to dress appropriately for the season
• Promoted school-wide energy awareness through classroom activities, energy fairs, and science displays
• Found out the watershed and source of their school’s drinking water, where it drains to, and created a map of their school’s location within the watershed

As for the future, Lawton hopes to increase the number of carpoolers at their school, and begin an anti-idling policy. They also want to continue the momentum of their walking-school bus program by continuing to involve parent leaders and staff members in several school-wide events throughout the year.

*New Market Skills Center, Tumwater School District, Tumwater
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Toxics Reduction & Indoor Air Quality

As a pilot Washington Green School, New Market Skills Center took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Established a school-wide strategy for turning off all outside lights during daylight hours
• Made sure there were recycling bins located throughout the school
• Made sure all hazardous chemicals were stored safely (under cover, away from drains, vents and food, in a locked space, clearly marked, and away from incompatible compounds)
• Awarded preferential parking for carpooling vehicles
• Tested a local water body for common contaminants and quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.) and invertebrates (indicating a healthy ecosystem), and then reported their findings through a display in their school

Mount Baker High School, Mt Baker School District, Deming
Assessment: Transportation & Outdoor Air Quality

Oasis School, private school, Richland
Assessment: Transportation & Outdoor Air Quality

*Reardan-Edwall Middle School, Reardan-Edwall School District, Reardan
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Recycling & Waste Reduction

As a pilot Washington Green School, Reardan-Edwall took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Established a school-wide strategy making sure doors to the outside of the building were not left open longer than necessary when heating and cooling
• Researched how much money their school spends on fuel each year and then used an online calculator to calculate their emissions
• Established a club that focused on environmental issues in their school and community
• Incorporated water quality/conservation lessons into other subject areas (art, poetry, literature)
• Used email instead of paper copies for one or more regularly issued newsletters, bulletins or memos
• Read the full case study

*River's Edge High School, Richland School District, Richland
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Water Quality & Conservation

As a pilot Washington Green School, River’s Edge took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Promoted school-wide energy awareness through classroom activities, energy fairs, or science displays
• Implemented weekend and vacation shut-down procedures for heating/cooling and lights/equipment to maximize energy efficiency
• Established a school-wide strategy to make sure windows, blinds, and curtains were closed at the end of the school day to keep heat in, and open during the day to let daylight in and reduce heating need
• Purchased only energy efficient equipment (e.g. Energy Star)
• Implemented native plant landscaping, an organic garden, xeriscape or other type of demonstration area, and included informational signs on the environmental benefits
• Completed a storm drain stenciling/marking project at their school and neighboring storm drains

*Simpson Elementary, Montesano School District, Montesano
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Toxics Reduction & Indoor Air Quality

*Skyridge Middle School, Camas School District, Camas
Certified Washington Green School, Level One: June 2009
Assessment: Recycling & Waste Reduction

As a pilot Washington Green School, Skyridge took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Improved school-wide strategies for turning off all lights when adequate sunlight was available or when rooms were not in use
• Set standard heating and cooling points for thermostats to 68° F – 70° F during the winter or heating season and 75° F or higher during the summer or cooling season. They also developed a plan to encourage students and staff to dress appropriately for the season
• Held an end of year locker cleanout school supply reuse (Great Locker Cleanout)
• Replaced disposable trays with durable trays
• Used bulk dispensers instead of packaged products (ketchup, mustard, milk, etc) in the lunchroom/cafeteria
• Made covered bicycle parking facilities and other accommodations to promote bicycling to school
• Read the full case study

*Tumwater Middle School, Tumwater School District, Tumwater
Certified Washington Green School, Level One, June 2009
Assessment: Water Quality & Conservation

As a pilot Washington Green School, Tumwater Middle School took the following actions to achieve Level One certification:

• Tested water quality of a nearby creek
• Audited the school’s water usage and determined ways to conserve water both at school and at home.
• Updated the school’s bottle and can recycling process
• Researched the school’s stormwater rate and examined the school’s impervious surfaces
• Took students on educational field trip for a restoration project and to observe salmon spawning
• Conducted a special Ecology assembly with the school’s Ecology Club putting on educational skits for the other students

West Valley City School, Spokane
Assessment:  Energy Efficiency