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Federal Way Public Schools Embraces Environmental Stewardship and Achieves Human Health Benefits

Federal Way Public Schools is committed to practicing responsible environmental stewardship. Students, teachers, and staff are making a difference in our community with programs to recycle, reduce waste, save energy and conserve resources. Besides the long-range benefits of good environmental stewardship, we strive to provide a healthy environment that is conducive to student learning and employee productivity.

In 1996 Federal Way became the 2nd school district in Washington to establish a Resource Conservation Manager. Over the next ten years, Ed Novaki spearheaded the district's conservation efforts to expand environmentally sound strategies and engage students and staff in a variety of stewardship practices.

Since 2007, we have reduced energy costs by more than $75,000 per year by installing high efficiency lighting, monitoring boiler efficiency and modifying vending machines. Our commitment to environmentally sound resources also extends to increasing waste reduction and recycling retrofitting mechanical systems for increased efficiency. Additionally, all new Federal Way schools are designed to maximize energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality.

Federal Way Public Schools has been locally and nationally recognized for our efforts to embrace environmental stewardship and protect student and staff health. The City of Federal Way and King County, Washington awarded Federal Way Public Schools both the Green Schools Certificate of Recognition and the Green Globe Leader in Sustainable Schools Award. One of our Federal Way high schools was also recognized as a finalist for the prestigious James D. MacConnell award for healthy, high-performing school design and construction.

Most recently, Federal Way Public Schools and Decatur High School were recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency's Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign for showing leadership in preventing chemical accidents by implementing a sustainable chemical management program.

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