The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 10, 2009

Schools embracing energy efficiency

By Tanner Kent

MANKATO — Green is always in season.

Not always the outdoors shades, of course.

But the indoor shades, the ones that apply to sustainable energy and environmentally friendly consumption, are beginning to color many area schools.

From more energy efficient school buildings to more efficient dust mops, no project is too big or too small.

“The trend is moving toward greener options in a lot of areas,” said Joe Meixl, health and safety supervisor for Mankato schools.

Meixl’s latest project is exchanging the district’s lineup of cleaning agents and chemicals for more eco-friendly alternatives.

Formerly, Meixl said, the district used several degreasers, acid cleaners, extractors and scrubs that are considered “corrosive” on the health hazard scale. Used for cleaning everything from showers and bathrooms to floors and carpets, Meixl said such chemicals had the potential to cause damage to human tissue if the user came in contact.

After several discussions during the Professional Learning Community meetings for custodial staff — yes, even custodians have PLCs — the department is switching to greener cleaners.

Such policies, Meixl said, help the district maintain worker’s compensation costs and are partly responsible for the district’s six-figure savings on casualty insurance this year.

“Even though our old chemicals were fairly benign,” Meixl said, “they were still considered corrosive. ... The less exposure we have (to those chemicals) across the board, the better off we are.”

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Supt. Les Norman is seeing green on a larger scale.

In November, the LCWM School Board approved a four-room addition to its elementary school to accommodate a growing preschool-aged population. Slated to open by Oct. 15, Norman said the addition will be LEED certified.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is administered by a third party to buildings that demonstrate a high level of “environmental responsibility.” For the LCWM addition, that will mean an increased focus on energy use and efficient systems for indoor air quality.

“The architects for the addition are really putting an emphasis on being conscious of the environment,” said Norman, who added that he district will call for construction bids on the project next week.

In New Ulm, district officials have now completely removed all aerosol cleaners from schools. Scott Hogan, director of building and grounds for New Ulm schools, said the district is also purchasing synthetic, micro-fiber dust mops that are much more effective.

In St. Peter, Supt. Jeff Olson said his district is also switching to less hazardous cleaners in addition to installing toilets that use less water and light bulbs with lower wattage.

The district is also continuing its Turn Off the Light campaign. The self-explanatory program began more than a year ago and has, to date, netted more than $10,000 in savings for the district.

“We’re still turning off the lights,” Olson said. “And our next move is to start turning off all the computers to save energy.”

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