Rio Rancho Public Schools Goes Green!
The Facilities Department has engaged in several GREEN programs that promote healthy learning environments.
From our Green Cleaning and Energy Conservation Programs to our LEED® initiatives. All programs are designed to ensure that students and staff are housed in schools that are clean, energy efficient, high performing and healthy.
The High Performance Schools Task Group (HiP Schools Task Group) was formed in 2006 and charged with reviewing the requirements of the Governor's Executive Order 2006-001. That order requires all new public buildings to achieve LEED® Certification. The order excluded public schools in lieu of forming a "Public Schools Clean Energy Task Force" that was renamed the HiP Schools Task Group.
Martin Montaño and Al Sena are members of the task group and are committed to the development of high-performance school buildings throughout the district with the goals of improving student achievement, reducing costs and preserving environmental resources. It is our policy to construct every new school from this point forward to meet the LEED® Silver Criteria. We are seeking LEED® Certification on Sandia Vista Elementary, Cielo Azul Elementary and V. Sue Cleveland High School. To read more about LEED® or Green Schools, go to USGBC.org or click here http://buildgreenschools.org/.
LEED® In Existing Schools Operations and Maintenance
Rio Rancho Public Schools is currently engaged in a nationwide pilot program sponsored by the USGBC to develop the latest rating system designed for existing schools. The district is one of ten school districts in the nation to participate by offering feedback, testing processes and reviewing policy. The new rating system will allow school districts to achieve a LEED® rating in their existing schools. The criteria is based on the development and implementation of sustainable Operations and Maintenance practices.
Green Cleaning Program
Lorenzo Rico and Jerry Stanley lead our custodial staff in implementing the Department's Healthy High Performance Cleaning Program or Green Cleaning program. The plan includes providing alternate cleaning techniques while minimizing the number of cleaning products used in an effort to provide healthier environments for students and staff. We are proud that RRPS will be one of the first school districts in the country to implement the first cleaning system certified for Indoor Air Quality through the use of GREENGUARD Certified cleaning products supplied by JohnsonDiversey.
Each school day, some 53 million students and five million staff members attend our nation's schools, representing some 20% of the American population. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), half this population may be exposed to polluted indoor air, lead, asbestos, chemical fumes, pesticides, molds and other toxins, along with overcrowding and poor sanitation. A well-designed Green Cleaning program can help reduce these harmful exposures and yield many other positive benefits for students, custodial staff, administrators and the environment. To read more about the Facilities Department's Green Cleaning Program, click here.
The Department is excited to present the EnerG3 program, the Department's latest Green program designed to help reduce our District's Carbon Footprint.
With the rise in energy costs and the concern for preserving natural resources, the Facilities Department has engaged in a District-wide Energy Conservation Program. Each school is encouraged to participate. Follow the links to learn more about how the New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division partners with citizens, businesses, industry, schools, universities, and research laboratories to invest in clean energy and clean energy programs.
To see the latest results of our Energy Conservation program and the EnerG3 Powerpoint presentation click here.
Vehicle No-Idling Procedure
Improving the Air Quality at our Schools
RRPS takes steps to lower carbon emissions; read about our No Idling Program!
Learn more about what RRPS is doing to help Green our schools. Visit our Green Leaf page.