LAUSD Sustainability Initiatives Offers Carbon Footprint Challenge to Aspen Challenge Teams
On January 24, 2015, student teams from Los Angeles gathered for the opening forum of the Aspen Challenge. The Aspen Challenge is an opportunity for students to display creativity, teamwork, and ingenuity as they strengthen their leadership skills as they collaborate to develop solutions to critical problems we face.
The Aspen Challenge partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in its inaugural year. Now in its third year, Sustainability Initiatives
offered the following challenge:
I challenge you to raise awareness about the causes of climate change and the impact of greenhouse gas on our environment and to work with your community to identify ways you can come together to reduce your carbon footprint.
The Challenge was presented by Christos Chrysiliou, Director of Architectural and Engineering Services for LAUSD.
The student teams will be presenting a written report for the judging panel on March 10, 2015, and the Competition will take place on March 14, 2015.
The winning team will present their proposal at the Aspen Ideas Festival from June 28 – July 2 in Aspen, Colorado. For more information about the Aspen Challenge, click the image below.
Dorsey High School Named “Green Achiever” and California Green Ribbon School
On February 20, 2015, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson nominated LAUSD’s Susan Miller Dorsey High School, along with three California schools and a school district, to compete in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition program, which honors schools that excel in energy conservation and environmental education. The California winners and Federal nominees are:
- El Monte Union High School District, El Monte, Los Angeles County
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Principal Reginald Sample accepts the award, with Teacher Robert Jeffers, members of Dorsey’s Eco Club, and State Superintendent Tom Torlakson looking on.El Monte Union High School District, El Monte, Los Angeles CountyLos Cerritos Elementary School, Long Beach, Los Angeles County Los Cerritos Elementary School, Long Beach, Los Angeles County
- Carmel Middle School, Carmel, Monterey County
- Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
- Marin Country Day School (private), Corte Madera, Marin County
The schools and district were also named “Green Achievers,” the highest honor in California’s Green Ribbon awards program.
“I applaud these schools for their commitment to helping students learn about the environment and to adopting their own policies to save energy and resources,” Torlakson said. “By incorporating environmental literacy and sustainability practices, these schools are creating stronger and healthier campuses and communities.”
Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate exemplary achievement in three “pillars”: Pillar I: reduce environmental impact and costs; Pillar II: improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and Pillar III: provide effective environmental and sustainability literacy, incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM), civic skills, and green career pathways.
The California Green Ribbon Schools recognition award uses the applications submitted for nomination to the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program to recognize schools and school districts across the state for environmental excellence.
California is one of 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Indian Education expected to nominate schools and/or a district for the federal recognition. California’s participation was recommended by Superintendent Torlakson’s Schools of the Future Task Force. The U.S. Department of Education will confirm state nominees on Earth Day, April 22, 2015.
Applications for Green Ribbon Schools recognition are available beginning in September each year.
Drought Awareness Campaign
Pursuant to the Board Resolution passed in April 2014 entitled “Water Conservation and Drought Awareness”, the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and School Support (OCISS) is collaborating with the District’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) and Facilities Services Division on a District-wide, multi-faceted campaign to promote drought awareness and water conservation. The campaign kicks off in October with teacher open houses at Christensten Science Center on October 2 and Granada Hills Science Center on October 15. An assembly to kick off Drought Awareness Week will take place at Playa Vista Elementary on October 13.
Drought Awareness Week will be supported by grade-appropriate teaching activities themed for each day: Drought Day, Earth’s Water Day, Los Angeles’ Water Day, Conservation Day, and Pledge Day.
For more information, contact the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and School Support.
LAUSD’s Green Building Program
In 2003, the Board of Education passed a Resolution requiring that the design and construction of all new schools and major modernizations meet the standards of the CA-Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). CHPS is a ‘green rating’ system originally developed by a third party in collaboration with LAUSD to address and implement sustainability in the design and operations of K-12 schools. CHPS is utilized in several states, in addition to California.
The CHPS green building rating system is a pass/fail system that addresses high performance design and operations. To date, 86 LAUSD projects are officially CHPS Certified.
The District is also conducting an 8 school pilot of the internationally recognized United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green rating system. Under the LEED certification system, schools can earn Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum certification levels. Both CHPS and LEED address the following:
- Location and Transportation
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Leadership and Innovation
The District now has a total of four projects certified under the LEED green rating guidelines: Sotomayor Learning Academies, Michelle Obama Elementary School, and Middle College High School are certified LEED Gold, and Dorsey High School’s new gymnasium has been certified LEED Silver.
LADWP Awards Grants to Seven Organizations to Provide Awareness Programs to LAUSD
On September 11, 2014, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced the award of seven grants to community organizations for educational partnership programs focusing on water and energy conservation.
The grants were awarded to non-profit organizations for formal and informal education programs involving young people at LAUSD schools to help them better understand important environmental concepts while also working with them on specific projects to help their schools, families and communities reduce usage of water, electricity, and natural gas. The program is coordinated with Southern California Gas Company.
Grants were awarded to:
- Alliance to Save Energy – Coordinate with clubs at 15 high schools and middle schools on energy audits to track campus energy and water savings and learn about conservation topics.
- Los Angeles Conservation Corps – Provide environmental education days to 500 middle and high school students involved in the Clean and Green Program
- The Children’s Nature Institute – Coordinate a three-part Nature Discovery Program and three lesson cufficulum programs to over 500 students in 21 classrooms in grades Pre-K – 3
- The Energy Coalition – Work with 35 elementary schools to teach 3,200 students in grades 3 – 7 in an energy efficiency classroom curriculum program
- Theodore Payne Foundation – Provide lessons and field trips to students in 15 classrooms, presentations to parents and lesson materials to teachers on saving water through use of native plant materials.
- Venice Arts – Train youth advocates in grades 6-10 to present 24 weekly workshops in younger-grade classrooms and school assemblies on conservation.
- Wildwoods Foundation – Provide conservation activities at Vista Hermosa Park, adjacent to downtown Los Angeles, serving 8,400 students, and educate up to 16,000 students through a mobile education unit.
“We seek to improve the city’s sustainability by reducing the use of water and energy which also helps customers to manage their utility costs. We know that young people enthusiastically embrace sustainability programs and projects,” said Nancy Sutley, LADWP Chief Sustainability Officer. “Through the grants, these outstanding non-profit organizations will help young Angelenos learn important concepts about saving water and energy in school classroom settings and in informal community locations.”
Grants were awarded as part of LADWP’s Non-Profit Community Partnership Grants program. Further information regarding LADWP’s non-profit grant programs may be found at the LADWP website.
SPOTLIGHT: Technical Services Unit
The District’s Technical Services Unit provides technical expertise and logistical support for the District’s sustainability program, including:
- Assessment of the applicability of technologies proposed to meet sustainability goals
- Determination of Compliance with District standards
- Development of technical specifications
- Review of technical designs and documents
- Verification of systems operating conditions
- Technical oversight of contractors’ proposals and construction performance
“We enjoy the working relationship we have with the employees assigned to the Sustainability Unit,” says Greg Lewis, Acting Complex Project Manager of the Technical Services Unit. “It is exciting to see the new products being presented by the Unit and how they can benefit the District efforts towards the goal of being the “Greenest” school district in the nation.”
Sustainability One of Seven Core Areas of Focus for Student Body Presidents
The Student Involvement, Development and Empowerment Unit of the District’s Parent Community and Student Services Branch has identified sustainability as one of seven areas of focus for associated Student Body Presidents.
Each associated Student Body President is required to select an area of focus from the following options:
- Attendance
- Student Achievement
- Positive School Culture and Climate
- Community and Parent Involvement
- College Awareness
- Sustainability Initiatives
- Restorative Justice
Students are asked to analyze their chosen issue and develop and implement solutions in collaboration with their Advisors.
For sustainability, question is “How can you create a sustainability campaign at your school?”
SIU is proud to support the students’ efforts and looks forward to hearing their solutions to these vital issues.
Does Your School Have a Green Coordinator?
Sustainability Initiatives Unit (SIU) is looking for volunteers for a pilot program supporting “Green Coordinators”.
Green Coordinators are school site sustainability advocates who will coordinate with us to promote District initiatives and sustainable efforts at their schools. They will participate in an orientation workshop, and will receive guidelines, materials and team building support as they encourage their school’s sustainability efforts.
Studies have shown that school-based champions are a crucial component in successful K-12 conservation efforts. As a result of a 2012 pilot of the PowerSave program at 8 schools, low and no-cost operations and student behavioral measures reduced energy consumption by an average of 10.5%.
This pilot is being undertaken pursuant to a Board Resolution passed in December 2010 requiring that each school designate an energy conservation officer.
The ideal Green Coordinator candidate is a school-based staff member, teacher, or parent who is enthusiastic about sustainability and can devote approximately one hour per week throughout the school year to promoting environmental stewardship at a school. Green Coordinators must be designated and fully supported by the Principal or School Administrator.
For further information on designating a Green Coordinator, please contact Sustainability Initiatives Unit at learninggreen@lausd.net.
LADWP Refrigerator Exchange Program
Sustainability Initiatives is working with schools to participate in LADWP’s Refrigerator Exchange Program. To date, 574 sites have received 1,761 new refrigerators valued at close to $800,000, with a projected energy cost avoidance of more than $111,000 in FY 14/15. The goal is to replace aging, inefficient refrigerators with energy efficient models. To qualify, the old refrigerator must be located in LADWP’s service territory, must be at least 10 years old and a minimum of 14 cubic feet, and must be in working condition. For additional requirements and assistance at LAUSD sites, please contact Alfred Valrie at (213) 241-0340.
This program is also available to income-qualified residential customers. Contact LADWP at (888) 388-6642 or lirep@ladwp.com for further information on the residential replacement program.
School Conservation Program Winners!
Congratulations to the 44 winners of the 2013 School Conservation Program. Winning schools saved a total of $584,676 in utility cost by conserving energy and water at their campuses.
The schools’ share, adjusted to account for solar installations and energy/water retrofits, was $240,199.
Winning Schools:
- 135th ST EL
- 156th ST EL
- 232nd PL EL
- 49th ST EL
- ANNALEE EL
- ARLINGTON HTS EL
- ARMINTA EL
- AVALON GARDENS EL
- BANNEKER SP ED CTR
- DE LA TORRE EL
- BONITA EL
- BROADACRES EL
- CALVERT EL
- CAROLDALE LRNG COMM
- CARSON EL
- CATSKILL EL
- CENTURY PK EL
- CORONA EL
- DOLORES EEC
- DOLORES EL
- EMELITA EL
- FRIES EL
- GRANADA EL
- HESBY OAKS SCHOOL
- KING-DREW MED MAG
- LOMITA MATH/SCI MAG
- LOS ANGELES ACAD MS
- LOS FELIZ EL
- MADISON EL
- MAYALL EL
- MAYWOOD ACADEMY SH
- MIDDLETON EL
- NARBONNE SH
- PARMELEE EL
- RANCHITO EL
- RESEDA SH
- SHIRLEY EL
- STERRY EL
- SUN VALLEY MS
- TOPANGA EL
- VICTORY EL
- VISTA MS
- WINDSOR M/S AERO MAG
- WRIGHT MS
LAUSD Sustainability Initiatives 
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