Lake Washington School District honored as Champion of Sustainability

​McKinstry, a full-service, design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) firm that specializes in energy and facility services, announced that Lake Washington School District (LWSD) will be honored as a Champion of Sustainability during the Sept. 27 Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field. 

In partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, the annual Champions of Sustainability program recognizes one organization during regular-season home games that exhibits a forward-looking approach to innovative energy and waste reduction  Read More >>

in the built environment, which accounts for one-third of the world’s energy usage and more than 15 percent of carbon emissions.

“With a longstanding commitment from teachers, students, staff and administrators, Lake Washington School District has become a model of Northwest sustainability and environmental stewardship,” said Dean Allen, CEO of McKinstry. “We look forward to forward to kicking off the 2015 home schedule with a well-deserved tribute this Sunday.”

In 2006, LWSD adopted a Resource Conservation Management (RCM) program focusing on energy efficiency, water conservation and waste reduction savings initiatives. Since then, the district has saved $9 million in utility costs while it has grown in the number of students it serves and the number of square feet in its buildings. Electricity use has fallen by 20 percent and natural gas consumption is down 30 percent. Conservation-minded students also helped trim the district’s waste disposal budget – calculated per student – by 42 percent.

Alternative energy is another point of emphasis. LWSD now has the largest solar energy capacity of any school district in the state, at 615 kW – enough energy to power about 60 homes. The solar panels at Finn Hill Junior High alone account for 355 kW.

LWSD has also installed geothermal heating systems in its new high schools and several elementary schools. Because the temperature underground stays constant throughout the year, geothermal systems that circulate water through the ground can heat schools using much less energy than standard systems.

Sustainable stormwater management practices at schools like Finn Hill Junior High – where rain gardens are used – save LWSD $64,000 annually, as compared to traditional water treatment systems. The measures also reduce the concentration of pollutants funneled into local waterways.

Last year, the district renewed its commitment to sustainability by launching powerED, a behavior-based program designed to bring new levels of effort and tools to conserve utilities, increase efficiencies and promote sustainability in LWSD schools.

McKinstry’s Champions of Sustainability program is part of the Defend Your Turf campaign. The campaign is a four-pronged approach to sustainable water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and community involvement within CenturyLink Field and Event Center as well as in terms of its impact on the city. For further information on the Defend Your Turf campaign, please visit, www.centurylinkfield.com/defendyourturf.