Here is how our district is helping the environment

Transportation Services Department

 

Pasco County Schools is the first school district in Florida to own and operate its own compressed natural gas (CNG) fast-fill station, furthering its Transportation Services Department’s emergence as a leader in Florida's environmental school bus transportation initiatives. With the help of Senator Wilton Simpson and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in 2010, the district participated in a state grant for the Clean Diesel project, which outfitted 129 buses with diesel oxidation catalysts to help improve the emissions on our older buses. Coupled with a bus-replacement plan that allowed for more efficient and cleaner diesel engine technologies to replace older ones, the district has kept pace with the strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission regulations.

In 2013, the district implemented propane-powered buses and liquefied petroleum gas fueling stations, which now serve East Pasco. The use of propane results in up to 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, 60 percent less carbon monoxide and 24 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The district soon will open its sixth transportation compound in Southwest Pasco. It will feature a fast-fill CNG station, housing up to 90 CNG buses. Compared to the current clean diesel buses, these buses produce 13 percent less greenhouse gas, 95 percent less nitrogen oxide, and 80 percent less hydrocarbon. Transportation services is committed to expanding these alternative fuel and clean diesel efforts to improve its communities and create a healthier environment for the 37,000 students we serve.

Construction Services Department

Green Globes certification is an alternate environmental certification program that the district uses to save lifecycle building operating costs by developing a comprehensive energy performance profile for new schools and developing designs that support this cost-saving model. 

The Construction Services Department has been recognized in the state of Florida as a leader in environmental and sustainable school design. Following the strategies of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), as well as Green Globes, the district has achieved numerous certifications ranging from Basic LEED certification to gold certification. LEED buildings are resource efficient and use less water and energy, and reduce the cost of operation.  Statistically, LEED buildings are 34 percent more energy efficient than regular building construction. In addition, LEED buildings provide better indoor environmental and air quality, which creates better teaching and learning conditions, and reduces the amount of employee absenteeism.

Maintenance Services Department

The district uses the fiscal years of 2010-11 through 2012-13 to establish a baseline of electric costs and consumption. Despite rising temperatures and additional square footage added to district inventory, the district reduced consumption by 1,527,121 kilowatt hours (kWh). 
 
The emissions calculator below shows the positive impact on the environment due to this reduction. Of important note is carbon dioxide released into the environment was reduced by over 1000 tons.