ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN
ONTARIO
Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow
E-2 Waste Reduction and Energy
Conservation: Best Practices for
Education Initiatives
DDSB and Ontario EcoSchools
• In 2005/2006, DDSB certified its first three schools as one
of 6 participating Boards
• In 2006/2007, number of Ontario Certified schools in the
DDSB increased to 15
• Last year, DDSB certified 31 Ontario Certified EcoSchools
and joined 540 other Ontario Certified EcoSchools in 26
school boards and Conservation Authorities
• This year, over 60 DDSB elementary and secondary
schools have indicated an interest in certifying as Ontario
EcoSchools
Lights off makes a difference!
How electricty is used in schools
28%
Auxiliary
motors
10%
Auxiliary
equipment
1
45%
Lighting
2
3
4
17%
Space cooling
Source: Energy Management Program Review for Toronto DSB, p.14, June 2006
How can I know that energy is being used?
• Wherever there is a light on, energy is being used.
For example, the computer monitor is still using energy if:
– you can see the screen saver OR
– if there is a light glowing anywhere on the monitor
• Wherever there is heat, energy is being used.
For example, if an electrical cord has a converter built in and it is
warm to touch then energy is being used
0
8
THE DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Energy Conservation Standards
The following standards form the basis of the
Energy Conservation EcoReview:
Lights and Equipment
1. Lights are turned OFF when not required.
2. Computers and monitors are turned OFF when not in use.
3. Computer peripherals such as printers, scanners and other electronic equipment
are also turned OFF at the end of the school day
4. An equipment consolidation program is implemented to ensure that energy is not
wasted by using more equipment than is necessary (e.g. reducing the number of
computer printers through networking).
Heating and Air Conditioning
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Windows and curtains are closed at the end of the school day.
Space around vents on walls or window sills is kept free of obstruction.
Space around control panels is kept free of obstruction.
Space around radiant panels is kept free of obstruction.
Personal appliances (heaters, refrigerators, etc) are not placed in
classrooms.
10. Doors to the outside of the building are not left open longer than necessary.
11. The school adheres to Board standard room temperatures and makes maximum
use of its computer controlled temperature system.
12. Mechanical equipment and water faucets are checked regularly and problems are
reported promptly.
Example Energy Conservation Standard
1. Lights are turned OFF when not required.
2. Computers and monitors are turned OFF
when not in use.
THE DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Waste Reduction Standards
The following standards form the basis of the
Waste Reduction EcoReview:
Reduce
1. paper use by photocopying on both sides of paper whenever possible;
2. paper use by using a sibling list when sending printed information home
to parents;
3. food-related waste by implementing a waste-free or boomerang lunch system.
Reuse
4. paper by organizing a “Reuse” Box for half-used paper that can be used
for rough work, lists and art projects;
5. mugs, glasses, plates and utensils to avoid using disposable dishes as much
as possible
6. furniture and equipment by advertising unwanted items internally within the
Board
Recycle
7. all paper products using a blue box recycling system set up in all classrooms
and offices;
8. cans, glass and plastic bottles, drink boxes and milk cartons using a container
recycling system set up in locations around the school;
Example Waste Reduction Standards
3. Reduce food-related waste by
implementing a waste-free or boomerang
lunch system.
7. Recycle all paper products using a blue
box recycling system set up in all
classrooms and offices.
Waste Minimization Action Plan
Energy Conservation Action Plan
I Teamwork & Leadership
II Energy Conservation
III Waste Minimization
IV School Ground
Greening: Designing
for Shade and Energy
Conservation
V Curriculum
VI Environmental Stewardship
& the School Community
Teamwork and
Leadership
Energy
Conservation
Waste
Minimization
Boomerang Your Lunch
Any uneaten food and any waste
material produced is returned
home, not added to the school’s
waste collection.
Pickering school cleans up
January 20, 2009
DURHAM -- Several years ago, it wasn't uncommon for custodian X to collect
three bags of garbage a day from XXXX Public School.
Now, the Pickering school doesn't even produce half a bag daily, thanks to its
participation in the eco-schools program and boomerang lunches.
The change is night and day, he said.
After lunch, he use to see disposable lunch containers, apples, oranges, vegetables
and even Tupperware in the trash.
"Anything and everything," Mr. X said, sitting in his small office, surrounded by
mops, cleaning supplies and other tools of the trade.
"Anything from paper bags to ziplock bags, full," Mr. X said.
After lunch, he'd look at all the garbage and think, 'what a waste'.
"Outside, garbage used to be blowing in the wind," he said. It rarely is anymore more kids put their wrappers in their pockets.
Reduce!
Engaging the
School
Community
Other Successful initiatives
•
•
•
•
•
Tote your own trash event
Daily Boomerang Lunches
Walk/Bike to School Days
Earth Hour/Earth Days
Paperless Days
Fundraising and School Community
Councils
• Fundraising initiatives could address and support
environmental activities: Stainless Steel Water
Bottle sales, named labels to reduce lost clothing,
sale of compostable bags for Green bins
• SCC encouraged to use vendors who will agree to
take back garbage for special lunch sales
It’s all in
the physics.
80% of light
is absorbed by
vegetation and
dark soil.
90% of light
14 % of light is
absorbed by snow.
absorbed by ocean
water.
Arctic warming feedback loops
Prediction: Artic ice free by
2070
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, Nov. 3 2004
Prediction: Artic ice free by
Naval Postgraduate School , Monterey, California, October
1, 2007
Interim Target
25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020
Track Record
Canada
25% above
Germany
18.4% below
United Kingdom
14.8% below
Sweden
7.3% below
Denmark
7.0% below
Support for school boards
• Download free guides at
www.ontarioecoschools.org