Union Public Schools

Green Up

What "U" Do Today Matters Tomorrow

Union leaders have acknowledged that to determine the direction we want our district and our community to take, “We Have to Be the Change.”  The message was clear; a major part of our future lies in personal responsibility and choice.

It is with this same sense of personal responsibility that we approach environmental issues.  Through the Green Up initiative, Union Public Schools encourages students, teachers, staff, and the community to take an active role in saving our natural resources.  We underscore personal responsibility in finding ways to conserve, recycle, and cut costs, knowing what we do today will have an effect on generations to come.

Resources

/ Tips / Union Projects / Green Up Initiative / Links of Interest / Email /

Actions

Two Green Up committees organize and publicize conservation efforts.  Members share ways we can all participate in reducing the district’s energy usage and work toward being better energy consumers.  They have published a set of Energy Saving Guidelines and have distributed them to all principals and directors.

Schools and departments have taken on group and individual projects, both student and staff initiated.  Their enthusiasm has been contagious!

A Message From Superintendent Dr. Cathy Burden

Green Up! at Boevers Elementary SchoolHave you looked at your newest electricity bill at home?  If yours is like mine, you are shocked.  Now just imagine the cost of electricity in our large buildings and throughout the district. 

I have mentioned a couple of times that this year I hope that we will focus on conservation efforts – not only to save money but to educate our students and our employees about the importance of saving our natural resources and living a more “green” lifestyle.  Right now there are many small things that can be done and we don’t have to wait until school begins.  Even the small things can add up to produce good dividends and can start us thinking about how we can conserve. 

  • Make sure that you are not burning lights that are unnecessary.  Make a sign for each light switch to remind people to turn off lights whenever possible. Do not leave on lighting for esthetic purposes.  Turn off bathroom lights when the room is unoccupied. 
  • Close window coverings if the hot sun shines in. 
  • Turn off your computers, monitors and printers as directed by IT.
  • Turn off TVs when they are not absolutely critical.
  • Remember to turn off office equipment at the end of the day and on the weekends.
  • Be careful with air conditioning – keep outside doors closed.
  • Conserve paper – don’t make a hard copy of an email unless it is absolutely necessary; don’t make copies unless it is the final, critical document.
  • Use email rather than paper for communication when possible.
  • Recycle paper rather than throw it in the trash.
  • Make notepads out of used paper.
  • Minimize use of plastic water bottles.
  • Minimize use of worksheets in the classroom.

Use this list as a beginning to think about ways that you and your staff can begin to conserve and be smart with energy.  Share your good ideas with me and let’s get serious about making this a priority goal for next school year – beginning today. 

We will be evaluating our automatic HVAC settings in all buildings.  Also, we will be sharing the utility bills for each building with principals so everyone can monitor utilization and hopefully see the impact of efforts.  As energy costs continue to go up, we must counteract them as much as possible so our money continues to go toward our primary responsibility – the students’ classrooms and our employees. 

Thanks for your help.

Dr. Cathy Burden
Superintendent 

Projects

Listing of selected programs or projects Union staff and students are involved to save on energy contest and protect our environment.

Green Up Tips

Links

Listing of selected links.

 

Central Park at Union