6710

POLICY

The Board of Education (Board) is committed to supporting sustainability in the Department of Education. Sustainability is the long-term maintenance of the well being of humankind, which in turn depends on the well being of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources. The Board recognizes that schools play an integral part in educating and exposing students to sustainability concepts and sustainable practices.

The Department of Education (Department) has a fundamental responsibility to educate students about sustainability and to model sustainability. The Department shall establish regulations or guidelines to implement this policy. The regulations or guidelines shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) establishing standards for facilities that ensure schools and Department facilities are designed and operated in a manner that maximizes Hawaii’s natural environment and ensures the lowest environmental impact possible;

(2) incorporating energy efficiency and conservation measures whenever possible;

(3) reducing water consumption across facilities and utilizing grey water/storm water when possible;

(4) utilizing on-site renewable energy and adopting a series of clean energy goals that guides DOE to 90% Clean Energy by 2040:

25% clean energy by 2015

40% clean energy by 2020

80% clean energy by 2030

90% clean energy by 2040

(5) promoting the longevity and responsible procurement of facilities, equipment and vehicles;

(6) promoting material conservation and recycling across facilities;

(7) incorporating the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship at the classroom level;

(8) conveying the mission of sustainability and environmental stewardship at the faculty and staff level;

(9) working with local partners to collaborate on projects, as well as informing the public on the efforts being made by the Department; and

(10) developing and implementing a plan for measuring implementation of the sustainability policy.

Approved: 7/17/80; Amended: 12/07 and 11/10