D158 given the 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award in Washington D.C.
ALGONQUIN—In a ceremony that was hosted on Aug. 8, Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) was honored as a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, according to a press release statement from the district’s Director of Communications and Public Engagement Denise Barr.
The ceremony was held in Washington D.C. where D158 was among 26 schools, 11 districts, and four postsecondary institutions that were honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, as previously reported in My Huntley News.
D158 was one of two school districts in Illinois to be recognized with a 2022-23 Illinois Green Ribbon Schools Award by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Program for consideration at the national level, explained Barr.
The U.S. Department of Education requires honorees of the Green Ribbon Schools Program to exhibit progress toward three pillars. D158’s green initiatives began nearly 14 years ago and have resulted in an annual energy cost savings for the district of approximately $1.5 million.
Some of the significant physical changes to the energy consumption components of D158 facilities include having lighting retrofits, HVAC, and high efficiency equipment upgrades in schools and district facilities.
Additionally, D158 installed 15,100 solar panels, at no cost to the district, back in 2020 across its three campuses, which makes it Illinois’ largest solar panel installation on school district property. The project now produces clean, renewable energy that fuels all district buildings.
As a final initiative to reduce the impact on the environment, the district purchased 33 propane buses that comprise approximately one-third of D158’s current bus fleet. $1.04 million in grant funding was also awarded to D158 that was used to pay for the purchase of four electric buses.
“We are incredibly proud to have received the Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools award,” said interim Superintendent Jessica Lombard. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability, environmental education, and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship among our students and staff.”
The recognition event in Washington D.C. was held at the U.S. Department of Education where attendees participated in sessions facilitated by national leaders in school sustainability.
Attendees additionally had the opportunity to share their school district’s practices.
Those who attended the event included White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. Henry McKoy, director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs for the U.S. Department of Energy and Janet McCabe, deputy administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also congratulated the honorees for their efforts.
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council offered a reception on Capitol Hill following the event. Numerous agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offered events throughout the week to connect honoree representatives with more resources as well as honor attendees for their achievements in whole school sustainability.
Representatives received sustainably crafted plaques and banners in recognition for their achievements.
