Kayla Knowles
Theme Editor
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District has taken the initiative to make changes over the past few years in order to become more eco-friendly.
Costa staff regularly takes measures that save energy. Teachers turn off lights when they are not in use, and the school regulates the energy consumption of school devices by automatically shutting off devices that are left on after school hours.
“It is important to take these small steps because a lot of energy can be saved in the long run,” junior Alicia Keasler said.
Costa has also started working with Grades of Green, a nonprofit organization based in Manhattan Beach that involves students in long-term projects and determines the most effective ways for the district to preserve energy.
“We believe that Grades of Green will continue Costa’s intentions of going green for years to come,” MBUSD Superintendent Michael Matthews said.
In the coming year, MBUSD plans to implement solar energy throughout the district. According to Matthews, the panels are important for the future of energy conservation. Additionally, all lights on MBUSD campuses will be replaced with LED lights.
“Our ultimate goal is to remain energy efficient by using eco-friendly measures,” Matthews said.
Grand View Elementary School has been named a Green Ribbon school by implementing trash-free lunches through the Grades of Green program. Additionally, waste on all MBUSD campuses has been reduced through the district’s promotion of recycling, helping to save money and decreasing buildup in landfills.
“I bring my own lunch to school everyday, and if I do have trash I make sure it is recyclable,” Costa freshman Jake Gordon said. “The recycle bins definitely make it a lot easier to stay eco-friendly at school.”
Costa has been recognized for its environmental measures with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Certification for the math and science building. This designation commends schools that implement eco-friendly measures. The new building saves energy with its ventilation system that recirculates air instead of constantly cooling air.
“We’re very happy about the Certification, and we hope to continue our efforts as we move forward,” Matthews said.
According to Matthews, Costa hopes to eventually become self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption. In the future, the school plans to implement a new pool heating system that will use the new solar panels.
“I am excited to see these changes because Costa is being updated with state-of-the-art technology while also remaining eco-friendly,” Principal Dr. Ben Dale said.
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