Page 7 - 2016-2017_Spotlight_flip

NOVEMBER 2016

IN THIS ISSUE:
S
Sustainability

MCPS is Committed to Reducing By controlling our electricity and
natural gas use, we’re helping to
Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions offset the effects of global warming.
E
Energy
GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) is defined as any gaseous compound in the
Several schools did a great job
atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping
controlling energy costs last summer.
and holding heat in the atmosphere. By increasing the heat in the atmosphere,
greenhouse gases are responsible for the “greenhouse effect,” which ultimately Remember to shut things down
leads to global warming. There’s no way to completely avoid creating GHG
for the long Thanksgiving holiday
emissions, but we can do our part to reduce the amount that we generate.
weekend and submit your checklist!
The largest contributions of GHG emissions for Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS) are associated with the heating, cooling, and lighting of our ‘Tis the season to be
schools and facilities, and our fleet fuel. Electricity and natural gas account for energy conscious!
approximately 80 percent of the GHG emissions of MCPS. Fleet fuel used for R
buses that drove 19,237,356 miles, to Recycling
transport 101,949 students, and other Why not GO GREEN this Thanksgiving
service vehicles resulted in the second by making a commitment to
highest source of GHG emissions in reduce, reuse and recycle.
T
FY 2015. The priority to reduce GHG
emissions persists in the areas of the Team
building energy efficiency and fleet Meet Terina Garcia, our new
vehicle efficiency—the categories of
facilitator for the Clarksburg area.
greatest opportunity.
Learn more about GHG emissions in
By implementing a comprehensive the MCPS FY 2016 Environmental
Sustainability Management Plan.
districtwide program to reduce our
carbon footprint, MCPS has reduced its GHG emissions by nearly 80,000
MTCO2e, or 31 percent, compared to 2003. That is the equivalent of reducing
approximately 190,476,190 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle, or the
amount of GHG generated to power 11,004 homes for an entire year!
We can all contribute to the overall reduction of GHG emissions by making
environmentally friendly decisions in our schools, homes, and communities.
Our actions today will make our earth a better place for future generations.