In The News

NNPS named Certified Green School Division

(November 21, 2011) - Newport News Public Schools has been certified as a 2011 Virginia School Boards Association Green Schools Division. NNPS is one of 37 school divisions in Virginia to be certified green; the district received a silver award.

To earn the designation, NNPS was evaluated against 30 benchmarks for energy efficiency, waste management, green building and educational opportunities. The school district has implemented energy improvement programs, launched recycling programs, integrated conservation into the curriculum, and created outdoor classrooms. In addition, most of the cleaning products used are environmentally friendly, native plants and recycled mulch are used in landscaping, and wetlands (which is part of the landscape at five schools and two other sites) are left undisturbed. 

The VSBA Green Schools Challenge is a friendly competition designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce carbon emissions. Districts meeting several criteria can become certified “Green School Divisions.” The competition is sponsored by Moseley Architects, Link Energy and Building Solutions, Trane, Ameresco and Johnson Controls.