What Can You Do?
For a brief overview about our utilities and ways to save, click
here.
Energy
Check your Vending Miser
In the fall of 2005 the district installed an energy management device - the Vending Miser - on to every cold beverage vending machine in the district. You may have noticed the sensor positioned at the top of the machine.
How does it work? The Vending Miser uses a motion sensor to detect activity around the machine and ensures the machine is ready to dispense. When the sensor has not detected motion for 15 minutes, it puts the machine into a "sleep" mode.
But then how does the beverage stay cold? This is a smart sensor that also monitors the temperature around the machine to calculate when the compressor needs to cycle on to maintain proper vending temperature. In fact, the product stays colder because the compressor - which produces heat - is turning on less frequently.
How does this save energy? The vending machine runs only when needed - typically during the day - and turns down when not in use - at night and on weekends. This helps the district cut energy use during the "off hours". The Vending Miser does not hinder the mechanics of the vending machine, and in fact, can help to extend the life of the machine.
IF YOU SEE A RED FLASHING LIGHT on the sensor: the compressor has been running continuously for more than 24 hours. A malfunctioning machine costs the district wasteful energy dollars and needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Please contact the resource conservation manager at 596-6112 for assistance. Be sure to have the vending service contact information handy.
DO NOT BLOCK THE SENSOR. The sensor will not be able to detect motion and therefore will stay in sleep mode. Please keep the top of the vending machine clear.
Watt Watchers On Duty
Watt Watchers is an educational program package to assist schools in reducing their energy consumption. Students on ‘power patrol’ learn how to cut their school’s resource use and share information with peers and teachers. Schools in our region that have participated in the Watt Watchers program have seen reductions of 5 - 15% in energy use, resulting in savings of $3,000 - $11,000 for the year. Simple behavioral changes and school awareness is all it takes to make a big impact in your school’s energy use. For more information, call the OSD Resource Conservation program office at 596-6112.
Solid Waste
Start a Waste Reduction Campaign at your School!
Look around - what can you recycle? What can you reuse? How can your school reduce its waste? The US EPA has many resources to help schools become "Waste Wise" and local organizations provide educational assistance to interested teachers and classrooms. Reduce + Recycle = Waste Reduction: A Guide for Schools & Groups is a great guidebook to help you get started. Thurston County Water & Waste Management also provides assistance. Check out the Thurston County Environmental Education Guide for ideas.
Monitor the waste at your school.
Solid waste hauling needs can change over time. Changes in student population, school activities, or recycling programs often affect the needed dumpster size or pick up schedule. Optimizing garbage and recycling services can be one way to reduce the cost of hauling solid waste. How can you know if your school should consider changes? Monitoring the garbage and recycling containers for a month can give you great information about the current hauling status. Work with your custodian to track garbage and recycling levels at the time of pick up with this visual tracking sheet. Then call the resource conservation manager (596-6112) to discuss possible changes to benefit your school's utility expenses.
Recycle your TECHNO TRASH!
Trying to get rid of all those obsolete CD's, VHS tapes, audio tapes, and floppy disks? Keep it out of the landfill - Recycling is possible! Now there is one place to responsibly and securely dispose of all your computer-related waste, spent supplies and obsolete accessories. GreenDisk handles all your technotrash disposal needs from a CD to a PC and just about everything in between. Visit their website (www.greendisk.com) to find out more.
Water
Want to be Water Wise?
GetWise Resource Action Programs® is coming to Olympia to help OSD students get wise about water resources. Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Did you know saving water also saves energy? Want to learn how our everyday actions can impact our water quality & quantity? Teacher and student activity kits are available for free to participating 5th grade teachers. WaterWise kits include home efficiency tools and audit activities, lesson plans, posters, video, and state standard correlations. If you are interested in implementing this program or have further questions, contact Domnick Iwasyk at 1-888-438-9473, x 110.
Transportation
Promote Alternative Transporation Options
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington offers free in-school programs and support to educate students about arriving safely at their school by bike or foot. The Safe Routes to School Program helps the school community determine safe walking, biking, and school site traffic strategies. Click here to find out more!
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
Get earth friendly this fall by going green in your back-to-school shopping!
Take stock with your shopping list before hitting the stores. What do you have in your desk or supply drawer already that is still in good condition? Are there things you could share with others and vice versa? Consider what you need new and what could be purchased "just like new". Reducing your shopping list helps save money, and also the natural resources it takes to manufacture new products. For those items that must be purchased, think about "closing the loop" by buying recycled - paper, pens, plastic binders, thrift store fashions...
Explore more eco-friendly options with the links below:
Eco-friendly supplies and clothes for back to school and beyond
Reality Check: Buying Green—on the Cheap
Top 10 Waste Reducing Tips for Back to
School:
- Purchase a reusable lunch box or bag instead of using disposable lunch sacks. It not only saves money over the long run but also significantly reduces waste going to landfills.
- Buy reusable containers for sandwiches and snacks, rather than individual bags. Using 2-3 bags per lunch adds up to a lot of unnecessary waste and expense!
- Buy a sturdy, comfortable backpack that your child can use year after year. You can also find a styling, gently used, pack at many second-hand stores.
- Purchase recycled paper – then try to use both sides to reduce waste even further. Americans could save 85 million tons of paper annually by simply reusing and recycling.
- Use brown paper bags from your groceries as book covers for your child’s textbooks. Your children can design their own covers from these bags, most of which are made of recycled materials.
- When purchasing notebook binders, consider those with clear slipcover fronts that can be reused. Have your kids create their own cover and simply replace it from project to project.
- Reuse last year’s plastic art or pencil box by decorating it with fabric paint and creating an all-new look and design. No need to buy another one!
- Try to buy water-based paints and soy-based crayons, which are better for the environment than oil-based products.
- Purchase a reusable drink container for your drinks rather than continually buying individual drink boxes.
- Buy in bulk and avoid individually prepackaged items. It is significantly less expensive and can reduce what’s thrown away. About 1/3 of all garbage in landfills is packaging.