Best Management Practices

REDUCING OUR WASTE

At RPCS, we sort our trash into 3 bins for recycling, and the rest goes into the waste bin. We use composting, single stream recycling, and paper recycling to reduce the amount that goes to the landfill.

HEALTHY CLEANING

At RPCS, we use cleaning techniques that have been shown to improve productivity, student performance and provide cleaner air.  We are members of the Healthful Schools Partnership which is part of the Healthful Buildings Partnership.  We use Green Seal Certified products that meet LEED standards.  RPCS is the first K-12 school in the nation to be a Healthful School.

GREEN DINING

All food waste and compostable plates, cutlery and cups are collected for composting in the dining hall.  Many students bring trash-free lunches from home. SAGE Dining Services, our food service provider,  focuses on providing fresh produce from local farms, encouraging healthy choices, and reducing waste in the kitchen. In the dining hall, signs remind us to eat local foods as much as possible, to know where our food is grown, and to eat food that is grown sustainably.

WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS

At the Water Bottle Filling Stations installed around the campus, students and adults fill their reusable water bottles with filtered tap water.  By doing so, we are reducing the use of disposable plastic bottles, as well as the transport of bottled water, and saving money in the process.  At RPCS, we are always looking for more ways to live sustainably on the Earth.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

At RPCS we save energy in many different ways.  We work to lower our carbon footprint by using less energy for heating and lighting.  We also generate some of our own renewable energy with our solar array.  All members of the community are reminded to use day-lighting when possible, to wear layers to adapt to differences in indoor temperatures, and to close windows and doors when heating and air conditioning are in use.  We recently replaced all lighting in the classrooms with more energy efficient bulbs and ballasts.