To evaluate the current state of our school systems sustainability by analyzing the effectiveness of our energy management plan and environmental stewardship through education.

In June 2008, the Harford County Board of Education reaffirmed their commitment to becoming a more environmentally friendly and sustainable organization with their approval of our Energy Management Plan. This Plan provides a framework toward our goal.

Purpose

The purposes of this policy are to establish Board goals and objectives relating to energy conservation and environmental stewardship; to facilitate responsible conservation practices; to emphasize environmental education curriculum; to allow Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) to comply with current and future regulations relating to energy management and conservation; to establish practices that will be applied to all aspects of HCPS operation to include but not limited to Operations and Facilities Management, Transportation, Planning and Construction, Purchasing, and School Based Decisions.

Policy Statement

The purpose of these procedures are to establish administrative regulations which implement the Board of Education Energy Policy and establish specific criteria and requirements relating to energy use, conservation, and sustainability at all levels of HCPS operations.

• Climate Control measures during heating and cooling seasons
• Electrical Energy Conservation
• Recycling and Waste Reduction
• Inspecting, Monitoring and Reporting

Our schools rely on the efforts performed by many supporting departments. Below are some of those operational departments and highlights of their efforts to promote our students wellbeing and the organizations sustainability. Our individual departments work with the Office Of Resource and Energy Conservation to evaluate their current practices and identify new processes to consider implementing

• Environmental services department tests and monitors the well water for all of the schools on well water.
• Custodial services department utilizes a green cleaning program.
• Automated Building Systems manages the climate control systems in the school buildings to reduce heating and cooling during unpopulated times.
• Automated lighting sensors have been installed in several of our schools to reduce lighting of unpopulated areas.

• All of our kitchens and cafeterias practice single stream recycling.
• Our kitchens serve daily student lunches on solid surface reusable trays and utensils to avoid the use of Styrofoam and reduce landfill waste.

• Many or our new schools are equipped with energy saving technologies to reduce consumption and have a lower environmental impact. Some of these technologies include:

• Purchasing Agents work with suppliers to provide products that are environmentally sensitive and meet standards established by agencies such as Green Seal, CRI Green Label, Eco Logo Environmental Choice, Energy Star, and many others.
• Attention is given to reduced packaging and purchasing products in bulk or concentrate.
• We use the U.S. Communities Office Supply contract awarded to Office Depot. A list of environmentally friendly products is listed in their Green Book.
• When Requests for Proposals (RFP) are issued, proposers are asked to submit a Sustainability Statement which indicates their corporate commitment to sustainable business practices.
• Single stream recycling has been incorporated into the refuse disposal contract.

• Automated power off all computers at 9:00 P.M.
• Consolidation of servers to save on energy, maintenance and replacement costs.
• Virtualization of servers to save on energy, maintenance and replacement costs.
• Replacement of CRT monitors with more energy efficient LCD units.
• Replacement of legacy servers with newer energy efficient models.

• Consolidation of bus routes to minimize trip distance.
• “No Idling” procedures requiring that vehicles be turned off during extended stopping periods.
• Driver training for energy conscious driving techniques.

Setting up a School Conservation Program

Energy Hog - Grades 2 - 8 Eco Schools - National Wildlife Federation Alliance to Save Energy - Green School Program

Energy Lesson Plans and Activities

Teachers! Have your students conduct an energy audit at your school.

Student Recycling Video: Joppatowne Elementary - Benefits of Recycling

Single-stream Recycling Video: Single Stream Recycling - (WMRA)

Additional Resources

Single Stream Recycling Print a Poster for Single Stream Recycling