City schools recognized for energy reductions

PROVIDENCE – The city school department has earned gold recognition from the State Electronics Challenge – a national environmental program – for decreasing the environmental footprint of its computer equipment in 2010. This is the second consecutive year the district has been honored.
“Through green purchasing, minimizing the use of energy and paper, and responsible recycling of computer equipment, the district achieved measurable results,” said Lynn Rubinstein, state electronics challenge program manager.
“Through its efforts, Providence schools saved enough energy to power almost 1,700 Rhode Island households per year, avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 2,500 cars from the road, and avoided 32,000 pounds of hazardous waste from being created, as well as avoiding the generation of trash equivalent to the amount created by 51 Providence homes each year,” Rubinstein added.
Among the steps Providence took were to ensure that all of its computers’ and monitors’ power-saving features were turned on, and kept on. The district also promotes the use of online file sharing rather than printing, and ensuring that printers and copiers use double-sided printing.
Providence schools also recycled 29 tons of obsolete computer equipment. &#8226