State, county, praise school district’s conservationist efforts
July 5, 2012
By Staff
A green thumb is paying off in green for the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction awarded the district an energy grant for $944,010 to replace four boilers at Fall City and North Bend elementary schools, and install energy-saving lighting at all district schools.
“We are pleased to have been awarded this grant, which is quite substantial,” Valley schools Superintendent Joel Aune said in a press release. “These resources will enable us to address some critical facilities needs while also enhancing our efforts to reduce costs through improved energy efficiencies.”
The state Legislature appropriated $20.9 million for energy cost savings’ projects this year. Seventy school districts applied for the grant money.
Besides the kudos from the state, King County honored Two Rivers School for successful conservation practices.
The school was one of 64 schools and two districts honored, according to a press release.
“Staff and students at these 64 schools have embraced recycling, reducing waste and other conservation actions, with assistance from the county’s Green Schools program,” said the program’s manager, Dale Alekel.
The 64 schools split in three levels, waste reduction and recycling, energy conservation, and water conservation.
Two Rivers completed Level 3, which focuses on water conservation at the school.
Alekel said most participants report cuts in expenses after going through the program.
More than 154 schools engaged in the program in the 2011-12 school year, up from 100 schools two years earlier.
According to www.kingcounty.gov, six Valley schools — all four grade schools, Twin Falls Middle School and Two Rivers — have participated since the Green Schools program’s 2009 inception.
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