Renewable Energy - Biodiesel project at Key West High School. The class purchased an old diesel Mercedes, collected uses restaurant oil and has produced 250 gallons of biodiesel. They have also made soap with glycerin waste product, and will sell bars for $5 as a fund-raiser for the project. This year the class has submitted a grant proposal for a research based, green collar learning, biodiesel plant that will meet the needs of the District and run feedstock from waste veggie oil from around town and future algae feedstock.

Clean Transportation - School Busses are presently using biodiesel fuel B-20

Clean Boating - Marine studies classes at Coral Shores HS have taken on several important projects over the years. These include transplanting coral and sea grass, water quality testing, fish counts, a new conch nursery, mapping sea floors, managing marine fish tanks, and environmental education. We opened an Environmental Science Academy at the school to expand offerings in this area.

Energy Conservation - Plantation Key School and Horace O'Bryant Middle School will be the first official green building projects. Plans will follow LEED design standards, and the district will implement all that is fiscally possible. The list of green components is long, but includes such goals as healthy natural lighting, good indoor air quality, minimizing the built footprint, energy friendly landscaping, reusing/recycling waste products from the old building and many others. Personnel are exploring the use of solar panels on the top of older buildings to generate electric power.

Green Financing - The Coral Shores Environmental Science Academy initiated a school-wide recycling project, which includes quantifying the amount of recyclables that did not enter the waste stream. These will be reported to the board at the end of the year, to calculate the savings to the solid waste bill. Staff and students recycle cardboard at all centers. An established recycling program (paper and plastic) at 10 schools is in place and implementation of a comprehensive district wide program for the 09-10 school year at all schools in underway.

Green Buildings - Plantation Key School and Horace O'Bryant Middle School will be the first official green building projects. The District is following LEED design standards, and will implement all that we can afford to do. The list of green components is long, but includes such goals as healthy natural lighting, good indoor and air quality.

Healthy Living - Styrofoam trays have been eliminated and replaced with a cornstarch-based tray product. Most of the meat recipes are made with turkey meat and fresh fruit is served at a minimum of 4 days per week in all cafeterias.

Land Conservation - Key Largo School sits on a 29 acre panel. A permanent construction easement is on all but about 14 acres. Teachers have for years incorporated the nature trail into their science curriculum. During construction, science classes helped move endangered snails to another locale prior to expanding the bus loop behind the school.

Reduction of Waste - A major savings in paper has come from implementing web-based communications systems for most functions. Staff and students manage everything from personnel to budgeting online. Teachers, staff, and most students can communicate by email, powerpoint, and video conferencing. While technology requires a substantial capital investment and maintenance, it does reduce the paper trail. Maintenance also powers down remotely at weekends and student breaks so that energy is not wasted.

Re-Use of Products - Teachers and staff use class sets of textbooks,  which may be shared. Teachers often collaborate and share teaching materials. When new facilities are built, excess furniture and equipment are donated / offered for purchase to various community organizations.

Recycling - Personnel have implemented a limited recycling program for printer cartridges and electronics at some centers. Facilities and schools are partnering with Waste Management and the Middle and Upper Keys Garbage Companies to provide recycling bins for all classrooms and school offices.

Water Conservation - Most sites and centers  use reclaimed water to irrigate  athletic fields and landscape. Water conservation in the maintenance of our athletic fields is encouraged and personnel irrigate by zones during the dry season.

Water Quality - Two sewage treatment plants at schools have been closed and hooked up to local treatment plants. A couple others will be closed as projects are completed elsewhere in the Keys.