green & healthy tribal workshop peaks to prairies pollution prevention center
TRANSCRIPT
Green & Healthy Tribal WorkshopPeaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Center
Peaks to Prairies- who we are A Pollution Prevention Information Center for
EPA Region 8 (MT, WY, ND, SD, UT, CO) One of 8 EPA funded Regional Centers whose
mission is to distribute tools and information to businesses, industries, technical assistance providers, state and tribal government agencies for the purpose of aiding in the practice of pollution prevention
A program under MSU’s Department of Extension – Housing and Environmental Health- Bozeman
Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Center- Tribal Green and Healthy School Workshop
Reduce Your Footprint: Waste Reduction & Recycling in Schools
Overview
Reduce Energy Efficiencies, Paper, Lunch, Air
Pollutants Recycle
Basics (paper, plastic, cardboard etc.), E-waste, Mercury
Special Activities Localized Fundraisers, Earth Day
Strategies for Success
The annual energy bill to run America’s primary and secondary schools is a staggering 6 billion dollars. This more than what is spent on textbooks and computers combined.
50%
50% 1. True2. False
What percentage of the total carbon emissions in the country are commercial (includes schools) and industrial buildings are responsible for?
25%
25%
25%
25% 1. 10%2. 25%3. 50%4. 75%
Why Schools are important
Can often be the largest waste generator in town – especially rural communities
Students are highly motivated and like ‘hands-on’ important work
Builds a future of well-educated consumers and recyclers by modeling behavior to an age where they are most likely adopt new behaviors for life
Energy Conservation & Efficiency
Why School Buildings are Important
Commercial buildings and industrial facilities generate about 50 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. This means that energy use in buildings is the largest opportunity to achieve reductions in GHG emissions.
Energy costs represent a typical school district’s second largest operating expense, after salaries—more than the cost of computers and textbooks combined.
Energy efficiency is vital to schools in the United States. The nation’s 17,450 K-12 school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy.
Reductions of 10 percent in energy use can be possible with little or no cost.
Where to start – Step 1
Know where you are - this is your Baseline (initial collection of data serves as the basis for comparison with the future
Calculate your Footprint – on your own GHG Protocol Initiative www.ghgprotocol.org/ (calculators
to help industries calculate their carbon usage Clean Air Cool Plant www.cleanair-coolplanet.org
(schools/universities) Campus Climate Action Toolkit and Carbon Calculator
Energy Star – tools and technical assistance that are no cost to use. More school districts utilize Energy Star than a 3rd party audit
Choose a 3rd party to conduct an energy audit You will need your energy bills - find the person who with the
checkbook !
Tools: Energy Star
A government-backed, voluntary program that helps organizations and individuals protect the environment through superior energy performance by providing energy-efficient solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions.
The national symbol for environmental protection through energy efficiency, recognized by more than 75% of all U.S. households.
ENERGY STAR Tools to Save
ENERGY STAR tools and resources to help you save 10% or more! Guidelines for Energy Management Target Finder Portfolio Manager Building Upgrade Manual More ….
Many districts are saving 20 -30 %!Some are saving as much as 40%!!How much can your school district save?
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
Free on-line tool for all commercial buildings Track energy use – score 1-100 Track energy costs, upgrades, and
investment cost Track water consumption Apply for ENERGY STAR recognition
Also – training and networking sessions available for K-12 schools www.energystar.gov/building
Medical Offices Office Buildings
Hospitals
Warehouses
Dormitories
Supermarkets
Courthouses
K-12 Schools
Bank/FinancialInstitutions
Hotels
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Retail StoresHouses of Worship
Space Types Eligible for the 1-100 Performance Rating System
ENERGY STAR Resource - Building Upgrade Manual
http://www.energystar.gov/bldgmanual
Plan and implement profitable energy saving building upgrades utilizing five stages: Retrocommissioning Lighting upgrade Load reductions Air distribution systems upgrade HVAC upgrade
The ENERGY STAR Challenge Toolkit
Sign up online and access the toolkit at www.energystar.gov/challenge
Get Started!• Quick lists of ENERGY STAR Resources for buildings and
homes• Model for establishing an energy efficiency campaign for
your community
Learn More!• Fact sheets on energy use in difference parts of the
community (offices, hotels, K-12 schools, supermarkets, congregations, etc.)
• Fast facts on energy use and climate change to help you craft your message
Spread the Word!• Sample news releases• Tips on working with the media to promote your efforts
Steps for Tribes to Launch ENERGY STAR Challenge to K-12
1. Make internal decision to do it• Work with EPA to customize it to fit your tribal
goals
2. Issue Press Release• Use examples from EPA as model
3. Post webpage linking to ENERGY STAR Challenge• Use examples from EPA as model
4. Create implementation outline/timeline• Work with EPA schedule webcasts for schools
Contact: Patty Crow – EPA Energy Star [email protected] 303-312-6464
Steps to Energy Audit via 3rd Party1. Initial Assessment2. Preliminary Cost Estimate3. Investment Grade Audit 4. Assistance with Funding Opportunities5. Project Implementation
Contact: Tim Tolman at McKinstry in Missoula 406-214-3501
Tools: Energy Audits
Florence School District – goal was to save $7000/ year, actually saved $23,000
Great Falls School District – anticipated cost reduction of $380,000/year (through lighting & water improvements, system control upgrades)
Browning School District is on its way
After the audit
This is your Baseline (initial collection of data serves as the basis for comparison with the future)
Benchmark with other schools – are you paying more than $0.75/ft2? Costs are less reliable to track than usage
Develop an Energy Management Plan Prioritize projects – long-term versus immediate Make energy efficiencies part of the job
description for your facilities managers Train your staff
2nd – Develop an Energy Management Plan
3rd Reduce your load
Don’t go to alternative energies just so you can continue to waste
Reduce – Energy Efficiencies
Change your lightbulbs and go one (or two, or three) steps further
Get a handle on your phantom plugload
Computer Power Management
To Maximize Power Savings, EPA Recommends:
Setting monitors to enter sleep mode after 5 to 20 minutes of inactivity
Setting computers to enter system standby or hibernate after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity On notebooks, be sure to activate these
settings in the AC power profile — not just the DC (battery power) profile
Don’t bother with “Turn off hard disks” in AC power profile – savings are trivial
The lower the settings, the more energy you save
Air handling systems
Inspect and proactively maintain them (scales and buildup happen in a year & efficiency drops)
Control exhaust fans- particularly in science classrooms
Formalize your policy
Random acts of excellence are not likely to stick.
Document your best practices and formalize a policy within your administration/ school board etc.
Follwup: The annual energy bill to run America’s primary and secondary schools is a staggering 6 billion dollars. This more than what is spent on textbooks and computers combined.
50%
50% 1. True2. False
Followup: What percentage of the total carbon emissions in the country are commercial (includes schools) and industrial buildings are responsible for?
25%
25%
25%
25% 1. 10%2. 25%3. 50%4. 75%
Reduce – Energy, water, paper, lunch waste
Largest generation of waste from a school comes from the:
33%
33%
33% 1. Cafeteria2. Classrooms3. Main office
The best way to dispose of electronic waste is in the landfill.
50%
50% 1. True2. False
A waste assessment is an action that should only be conducted by waste professionals
50%
50%1. True2. False
Reduce - Paper
Reduce handouts to parents Double side printing or use ½ sheets Daily email announcement and a monthly
or bi-weekly newsletter Encourage email or district website
postings Policy regarding community bulletins- post
on website not via paper announcements.
Reduce – No Waste Lunches
Consider a recess followed by lunch schedule
Offer versus Served Program
Say NO to Polystyrene
Provide metal utensils, biodegradable cups and napkins
No more polystyrene trays or plates
Zero Waste Home Lunches
Inform parents on how home lunches can be zero waste Avoid single serving packaging Refillable bottles versus juice boxes and
containers Cloth napkins Re-usable containers Metal utensils Pack it in – Pack it out
Lunch Waste Disposal
Compost and Gardens
Reduce – Water consumption What are the water consumption habits at
your school? Do your faucets drip? Are your bathroom sinks left on? Do you have waterless urinals? Low-flow
toilets? What is your landscaping?
Reduce – Air pollutants
Institute a no-idling policy Apply this to parents as well as buses
RECYCLE – Basics, E-Waste, bulbs
Recycling – Basic Programs
Paper, Plastic, Cardboard, Aluminum, Glass
Steps to Set up Your Recycling Program1. Form a team
Find out who supports recycling Consider conducting a survey Get permission from principal and include
parents, teachers, facilities staff, cafeteria etc Appoint a committee chair
2. Conduct a waste assessment 3. Goals and Actions
Start small – pick the recyclable material that makes up the highest percentage of your waste stream
Setting up your recycling program4. Figure out where materials will go
Start with you current trash hauler Is there a city recycling program? Are there private recycling companies? Consider a district wide collection or can you
work with a local business?
5. Determine how they will be stored6. Work through your in-school collection
system Who and how often?
Recycling – Printer Cartridges
Recycling – E Waste
E-Waste Pollutants
Cadmium – rechargeable computer batteries and monitors
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cabling – circuit boards, cables, connectors
Mercury – lighting devices in flat screen displays
Lead, beryllium, cobalt, silver, gold, palladium…
Over 60 elements from the periodic table can be found in complex electronics.
State Electronics Challenge
In 2009, a Source Reduction Grant was awarded to the NE Recycling Council to introduce and support the State Electronics Challenge in EPA Region 8 Good resource for school districts to help manage their
electronics responsibly (i.e. purchasing green computers, energy conservation , proper recycling at the end of their useful life).
Voluntary & Free – entities join as Partners Partners commit to take action to reduce the environmental
footprint of the computers/electronic commitment In return, they receive technical assistance/tools As far as I know this program will be continued
www.nerc.org
SEC 2010 Results
In its third year, the SEC expanded from its Northeast roots to serve state, regional, tribal, and local governments in the Rocky Mountain and Great Lake States. Now 63 Partners whose activities resulted in significant environmental benefits:
Saving enough energy to power 5,656 households/year
Avoiding greenhouse gases emissions equivalent to removing 5,535 cars from the road/year
Avoiding the generation of 412,614 lbs of hazardous waste.
Recycling - Mercury
Special events – opportunities for change
Party Green
Disposable cups –vs- Reusable cups and mugs
Bottled water –vs- Pitchers, water stations Disposable paper plates and utensils –vs-
reusable Tub-o-Dishes Garbage cans –vs- Recycling Bin Name tags –vs- Reusable name badges Local &/or healthy foods –vs- Sugar &
processed
Special Activities- Localized Fundraisers Community art-market Farm to School Fundraiser Meat / egg shares Yard sales/ auctions Local business services or items
Special Activities – Earth Day Recycle week contest – bring awareness
to the amount of recyclable materials entering the waste stream
Re-cycle / re-use drive – collect cell phones, printer cartridges, batteries
Waste audits – conducted by students Bike / walk to school Non-toxic cleaner parties – make and
test against conventional cleaners
Strategies for Success
Start with a Waste Assessment A general way of looking at a school’s
waste stream 1. Preliminary questions2. Site Tour3. Interviews Keeping these questions in mind
throughout: Why do we purchase this? Can we use less of it or use it more efficiently? Can we reuse it, recycle it, or compost it?
The goal of conducting a waste assessment is to: Document the current waste
management system. Estimate the types of wastes generated. Identify and prioritize waste reduction,
reuse, recycling and composting opportunities.
Outline a plan of action. Identify measures of success and track
program progress. Make program adjustments as necessary.
Name of School: Key Contact:Direct Phone number/extension: Email:
Date:
Number of students in the school: Grade levels: Number of teachers: Number of teacher/staff work areas and break rooms:Number of administrators and other staff: Cafeteria: Has a kitchen? Yes NoConcession Stand? Yes NoVending Machines - How many and where are they located? Location 1: Number: Aluminum cans Plastic bottles Milk cartons Other Location 2: Number: Aluminum cans Plastic bottles Milk cartons Other Location 3: Number: Aluminum cans Plastic bottles Milk cartons Other Are special or hazardous wastes produced by the school? (Such as in the Art rooms, Ceramics Lab, Jewelry Making Shop, Wood Shop, Automotive Shop, Photography Lab, Vocational Labs, etc.) Yes
No If yes, see page 8.
Custodial service Key Contact: Direct Phone:Email: In-house Contracted Frequency of in-school waste collection: Daily Every other day Weekly Other: Waste Hauler: Key Contact: Phone: Email: In-house Municipal service Contracted/Private hauler
Cafeteria Information Key Contact:Direct Phone number/extension: Email:How many meals are served each day?
For Breakfast?: for Lunch:
Do students choose what they want or is food served with no choice? Choice No Choice
How is food served? Reusable plates Paper plates
Polystyrene (Styrofoam) plates No plates used Reusable cups/bowls Paper cups/bowls Polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups/bowls No cups/bowls used Reusable trays Paper trays
Polystyrene (Styrofoam) trays No trays usedOther: How are drinks served? Paper-cartons Plastic bottles (#1 PET) Plastic bottles (#2 HDPE) Glass containers Bulk dispenser, using plastic cups Bulk dispenser, using paper cups Bulk dispenser, using reusable, washable glasses Other:
If using polystyrene trays, how many trays are used each day?
What types of utensils are used? Reusable DisposableAre drinking straws provided? Yes
No
How are condiments (including salt and pepper) served? Bulk dispensers Individual packets Combination of both Describe: Do students have access to the napkin holders or is one napkin provided per meal? Free access One per meal
What types and amounts of packaging is the food delivered in? (Example: meat comes into the cafeteria wrapped in clear plastic bags, reusable tubs, etc.): Do vegetables come in tin cans? What size and how many cans are used each day? How are cheeses and lunch meats packaged?Is bread delivered as individually wrapped loaves?List any individually wrapped items served such as chips, muffins, desserts etc?About how much food waste is generated in the cafeteria each day?Number of garbage bags each day (Specify bag size):From cafeteria: From kitchen:
Strategies for Success – It’s all about relationships Build a team and designate leaders Students – cater to young and older Teachers – natural leaders and the key
facilitator of recycling programs and curriculum tie-ins
Obtain support from your School Board, superintendents, and principals That support is critical for enacting lasting
change by establishing policies for purchasing, cleaning, recycling etc.
Building and maintenance staff are a critical part of many of these discussions
Parents and Community
Educate your children- build these principals into the culture of your school family
Incorporate the science of climate change, watershed processes, water quality, ecosystem functioning into your curriculum
Inspire change through reading assignments
Encourage action through planned activities and clubs
Incentives Save your school money Grant Sources
State Environmental Organization and US EPA EPA R8 Resource Conservation Challenge Funds - Ben
Bents (4 priority areas: MSW Recycling, Greening Electronics, Industrial Materials Recycling, Priority Chemicals Reduction)
EPA R8 Source Reduction Grants – Linda Walters EPA HQ Innovation Initiative (IWG Grant) - Ben Bents EPA Grants Homepage www.epa.gov/region08/grants/
USDA periodically has rural development funds www.rurdev.usda.gov
SEC Challenge Award Programs & support from the school
community
Followup: Largest generation of waste from a school comes from the:
33%
33%
33% 1. Cafeteria2. Classrooms3. Main office
Followup: The best way to dispose of electronic waste is in the landfill.
50%
50% 1. True2. False
Followup: A waste assessment is an action that should only be conducted by waste professionals
50%
50% 1. True2. False
Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Center
Montana State UniversityMyla Kelly – [email protected]
www.peakstoprairies.org