BENJAMIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 25

Green/Environmentally Conscientious Initiatives

1. Board Policies 4.70 Resource Conservation and 4.160 Environment Quality of Buildings and Grounds, and Administrative Procedures 4.70-AP Resource Conservation and 4.160-AP Environment Quality of Buildings and Grounds address green initiatives and practices.
2. Harvard is using green cleaning chemicals. The school district’s cleaning products are in the process of being assessed to be certified green.
3. Hazardous Materials Handling sheets are used for chemicals in classrooms.
4. The school district is collaborating with Village of Carol Stream on items such as no idle zones and distribution of CFL bulbs.
5. Energy conservation efforts include:
6. energy audits,
7. Energy Star ratings,
8. light bulb replacement this year to increase energy efficiency,
9. light controllers installation,
10. energy education for faculty and cleaning staff (examples: turn off lights, shut down computers/monitors/printers), and
11. continue to search for further energy conservation strategies such as amount of lights used for security at night.
12. Benjamin Middle School has reduced food service trash by switching to reusable trays instead of Styrofoam trays to reduce number of trash pickups from three to two per week.
13. We have installed and are using solar panels, solar powered model cars and other toys as energy educational tools.
14. The School Board approved to seek grants to fund wind turbine as specified by proposal.  We plan to use it as an energy education educational tool.
15. Staff and students are conserving printer ink by using different fonts.
16. The district recycles printer cartridges, paper, metal, and plastic. 
17. The Administration Service Center is reducing the use of plastic water bottles by using the water cooler and paper cups until we have Lake Michigan water.
18. The weekly bulletins to board members are now being E-delivered resulting in cost savings of paper, envelopes, and mileage.
19. Electronic (E-Backpack) fliers are now posted on our website conserving paper usage.
20. Our staff submits ideas to consider for energy conservation and cost savings.

Challenges:  Providing recycling containers for events including chess tournaments, staff luncheons, etc. and continuing to identify new or improved green strategies