APRIL 2017

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Sustainability Last month we talked about

Earth Hour. This month the focus

is on Earth Day. Why do we care

so much about the planet?

Quite simply, because we must!

Renewable Energy Wind power, solar power,

geothermal energy, hydroelectric

power, and biomass are the main

forms of renewable energy. MCPS

purchases all of these renewables,

and we also produce solar energy.

Recycling Spring has sprung, and that means

that there are specific things that you

need to remember about your

dumpsters and yard waste.

Team Activities It’s almost time for MAEOE’s annual

youth summit. Do you know of a

student who’d be a great keynote

speaker? Have them apply!

Also, make sure to get those WATTS

UP? posters submitted by May 1.

EACH YEAR ON APRIL 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day,

focusing on the planet’s environment and holding activities to raise public

awareness about the negative effects pollution has on Mother Earth.

The idea for Earth Day was proposed by Senator Gaylord Nelson who had

witnessed the damage caused by a massive oil spill in 1969. Nelson was

inspired by student involvement in the anti-Vietnam War movement and

realized that if that same energy were focused on the environment, change

would take place. In 1970, his staff of 85 concerned citizens organized a

national “teach-in” that focused on educating the public about the

environment. They were able to convince 20 million people across the United

States to participate in protests, rallies, and other public events on April 22,

1970 to raise awareness about the environment and find ways to protect the

planet. By 1990, the event had gone global with 200 million people in 141

countries participating. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Earth Day

Network launched a campaign in 2010 to plant 1 billion trees—a feat that was

accomplished in 2012.

Through the years, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has made

intentional, environmentally-friendly decisions in the areas of building

construction and maintenance, resource conservation, transportation,

materials and waste cycles, and information technology. MCPS continues to be

a leader in green and healthy-schools initiatives and integrates environmental

literacy into the curriculum at all grade levels. Those who support Earth Day

understand that awareness and education are foundations for progress. This is

why we promote Earth Day within our MCPS system. Some schools will hold

special assemblies or have school spirit weeks that focus on Earth Day while

others will host community cleanup activities. These actions not only help us

make our earth a better place to live, they also teach our students to be

responsible environmental stewards and future leaders.

“Our air, water, soil, forests, oceans, rivers, lakes, scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, minerals,

that is the wealth of the country.” ~Gaylord Nelson

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APRIL 2017

MCPS Makes Renewable Energy Sources a Priority

Montgomery County Public

Schools (MCPS) believes in

clean, renewable energy.

In 2005, MCPS began purchasing

electricity through renewable energy

certificates (RECs). The primary

sources of RECs electricity are wind

and solar. At present, 35% of our

electricity comes from RECs, which is

an increase of 30% since 2005.

In 2009, MCPS entered into a

partnership with a private company

and put a solar power purchase

agreement in place. We now have 12

schools hosting more than 11,000 solar

panels with the potential to produce

2.75 million watts of direct current

electricity through solar power. These

schools were chosen based on several

factors including the life expectancy of

the roof, the orientation of the building, the equipment housed on the roof, and

the trees covering and surrounding the building.

As of February 2017, MCPS has generated nearly 10 gigawatt (GW) hours of

electricity through the use of solar panels. To help put this number in

perspective, it’s important to know just how big 1 GW is. There are 1 million

kilowatts (kW) in a gigawatt, so the solar panels on MCPS property have

generated more than 10 million kW hours of electricity, which is approximately

the combined total of electricity used by Damascus, Northwood, Sherwood,

Springbrook and Walt Whitman High Schools during the 2015-2016 school year!

When looking at how solar energy benefits the environment, the solar

electricity that has been generated is the environmental equivalent of a

reduction of about 20 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), or the equivalent

of 18 million automobile miles. Our

purchase and production of renewable

energy resources is just one way MCPS

proves its commitment to environmental

sustainability. To learn about the other

things we’re doing, read our MCPS

Environmental Sustainability

Management Plan.

The solar panels that cover the roof of Lakelands Park Middle

School and eleven other MCPS schools have generated

more than 10.14 gigawatt hours of solar energy.

As we teach our students the value of

protecting our natural resources and

show them how they should be

stewards of the planet, we continue

to make progress toward reducing our

carbon footprint and making the earth

a greener planet. MCPS as a whole

can be proud of the accomplishments

we make every day to preserve our

natural resources and ensure

environmental sustainability for

present and future generations.

“Solar is cost effective right now. When you consider the cost to our

health from air pollution, solar is just as competitive as

any other energy source.” ~Thomas P. Kay

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APRIL 2017

Springtime Recycling Reminders

Did you know that if the contents of one contaminated recycling dumpster

goes into the recycling truck, the ENTIRE load of recyclables gets ruined?

If this happens, MCPS could lose up to five tons of recycled material. Help

protect our recyclables so we don’t lose them. Make sure that you’re

checking the state of your dumpsters on a regular basis.

This is an actual photograph of items found in the paper recycling

dumpster at one of our schools. Don’t let this happen to you!

Make sure your recycling dumpsters remain locked.

LOCK IT OR LOSE IT YARD WASTE

CHECK WHAT TO LOOK FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION

Lock,

chain, lid,

sliding

door and

gravity bar

MCPS requires that all

dumpsters for recycled

material must be locked at all

times, except when in use by

building services.

If the lock, chain, lid, sliding door

or gravity bar is missing or

broken, submit a MAXIMO work

order for repair.

Gravity bar The gravity bar should be in

the locked position when not

in use by building services.

Move the gravity bar into the

locked position. It doesn’t need

to be unlocked for the dumpster

to be serviced.

Contents To avoid contamination, make

sure the proper recycling

materials are placed in the

designated dumpster.

All recycling should be removed

from plastic bags before being

placed in the proper dumpster.

Recycling your yard waste

is as easy as 1-2-3! Just

remember the following:

When appropriate, place yard

waste in paper or clear plastic

bags.

Set aside the yard waste in

the designated area.

Use MAXIMO to place a work

order requesting a special pick

up.

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GOT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

If you ever have any questions or

concerns about recycling at

your school, contact:

John Meyer, recycling manager

recycling@mcpsmd.org

240.314.4714

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This newsletter is produced by the School Energy and Recycling Team (SERT)

program and distributed to SERT leaders, Green Teams, building service personnel,

and others who are interested in conservation and sustainability. As part of the

Montgomery County Public School Department of Facilities Management, the SERT

program provides opportunities for all schools to participate and receive incentives

and recognition for their energy conservation and recycling efforts. We support

a balanced environment for the integration of all students to work together in a

culturally diverse environment, and strive to provide the resources, support, and

vision of the future for a successful conservation program at each school.

Promoting the connections between human behavior and its impact on the

environment reinforces our culture of conservation and increases participation

in our mission to conserve resources and recycle actively.

THE SERT TEAM:

Richard Benjamin, program manager

Helen Blankfeld, information specialist

DJ Connelly, facilitator

Terina Garcia, facilitator

Linda McLaughlin, program technician

John Meyer, recycling manager

Jim Stufft, facilitator

Department of Facilities Management | SERT PROGRAM | 45 W. Gude Drive, Suite 4000 | Rockville, MD 20850 www.GreenSchoolsFocus.org | Main: 240.314.1090 | Fax: 301.279.3005 | SERT@mcpsmd.org | @MCPSsert

APRIL 2017

Maryland Green Schools Annual Youth Summit Tuesday, May 18, 2017 Sandy Point State Park

WATTS UP?

05/01/17 THE NEW CONTEST DEADLINE IS

THIS YEAR, ALL MCPS

EMPLOYEES ARE INVITED TO

JUDGE THE COMPETITION!

WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS.

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor

Education (MAEOE) is looking for exceptional young people to

present a student keynote address at the upcoming Maryland

Green Schools Youth Summit.

The chosen students will talk about one or more Green School Projects that

they have done this year. All students in a preK-12 Maryland Green School (or

in a school applying in 2016-2017) are eligible to present. The keynote address

will take place during the ceremony at 11:15-11:45 a.m. and will be five

minutes in length. There will also be speaking opportunities at each of the

Green School Ceremonies. Presentations should be dynamic, creative, and

fun for an audience of mostly students grades preK-12. Submissions are due

by April 28 at 5:00 p.m. Find out more here.

MAEOE expects more than 3,000 students to attend this year’s youth summit

which will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The theme, “Creating Opportunities

Beyond the Bricks,” focuses on the amazing ways students learn in the

outdoors and outside of traditional classroom settings.

Visit MAEOE’s website to learn more about Maryland Green Schools, the

summit, or how to apply to be a keynote speaker/exhibitor at the youth

summit. Every school in Maryland is invited to the summit. Registration for

the event will be available on MAEOE’s website soon.