The District was recognized by the California Department of Education as a California Green Ribbon School recipient, with a Gold Distinction. This recognition award honors schools, school districts, and Institutes of Higher Education for excellence in resource efficiency, health and wellness, and environmental and sustainability education. The recognition award is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education (ED) effort to identify and communicate practices that result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness; and reinforces federal efforts to increase energy independence and economic security.

 

In 2015, PUSD placed in five of the six top awards for energy conservation in the Energize Schools’ Energy Conservation Competition. Out of 47 schools that participated, PUSD took first place (Hillview JHS), second place (Parkside Elementary School), third place (Highlands Elementary School). Additionally, PUSD was recognized for having a school that showed the most improvement (Rancho Medanos JHS) and a school that had the best overall campaign (Martin Luther King Jr. JHS). All of our schools reduced our total kWh by almost 79,000 kWh during the competition period of three weeks!

 

Using funding from State Proposition 39, the District has improved its energy efficiency by installing new heating and air conditioning equipment at Willow Cove and Stoneman Elementary Schools and new exterior and interior LED lighting at multiple locations in the District. The District has installed solar arrays at all K-12 school sites as well as the Pittsburg Adult Ed (PAEC) and the Youth Development Center, saving thousands of dollars and kWh in energy usage.

 

All cleaning products used in the Maintenance and Operations department for the cleaning and maintenance of our school sites and offices are green products, all non-toxic and safe for the environment.

 

• District awarded Green Ribbon School District with a Gold Distinction from the California Department of Education
• Golden Bell Award for District’s Garden Program from California School Board Association
• Board Policy establishing a Green School Operations and Sustainability policy
• Solar arrays at 15 of the District’s 17 locations
• 24 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations districtwide
• New EV bus charging stations in the works through a PG&E pilot program
• Site Support Services Center acquired new beta solar panels on over one-acre bioswale and 4 (10kW) wind generation units
• A Learning Center is being built in Bioswale for PUSD students.
• All custodial cleaning products are green or green certified
• Idle-free program to discourage idling vehicles at school sites
• Farm-to-school fresh produce
• Active gardens at all K-12 school sites
• High percentage of recycle to waste ratio
• Composting food waste at most school sites
• Recycled water for irrigation at two school sites with a third site planned
• Waterless urinals at all school sites and district facilities, each saving up to 40,000 gallons of water per year

Additional Energy Resources: