Issaquah District, Sunset Elementary Recognized for 'Green' Efforts

The Issaquah School District and its Sunset Elementary in Bellevue are among eight King County schools and two districts earning recognition this month for their resource conservation efforts from the county's Green Schools Program.

The program helps schools and districts engage their students and staff in conservation strategies that help reduce waste, cut garbage disposal costs, and lower energy and water consumption and costs, according to a press release from King County.

Sunset Elementary is being recognized as a Level Two King County Green School. In Level Two, schools complete energy conservation education and actions, while maintaining and building upon their Level One waste reduction and recycling practices.

Sunset reduced its energy use by more than 14 percent. All Sunset classes signed an energy conservation pledge. Stickers were posted on light switches as reminders to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Sunset maintains a 55 percent recycling rate, thanks to a school-wide program that includes collection of recyclable and compost-able materials in its cafeteria.

Green Team students at Sunset Elementary served as cafeteria monitors to guide sorting of materials. To reduce waste, straws were eliminated and durable trays are used. The weekly school newsletter is sent to families electronically, saving 3,250 sheets of paper per week.

The Issaquah School District completed the program’s Level Two energy conservation criteria. The district’s energy conservation strategies have reduced district-wide energy consumption by more than 20 percent. The district consistently supports school efforts to engage their students and staff in conservation actions, and has partnered with King County and the City of Issaquah to assist its schools.

Most schools in the district collect compost-able materials in their cafeterias. Of the district’s 24 schools, 21 have been recognized as Level One Green Schools. Seven of those schools have completed Level Two and four have completed Level Three.

As of February, four school districts (Bellevue School District, Issaquah School District, Mercer Island School District, and Tahoma School District) have completed Level One, three school districts (Bellevue, Issaquah, and Tahoma) have completed Level Two, and two school districts (Bellevue and Tahoma) have completed Level Three.

For more information and to read success stories, visit the program website. Schools and districts interested in improving their conservation practices and receiving assistance and recognition can contact dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.

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Information for this post is from a press release by King County.