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Sustainable SCCS

Sustainable Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) is an initiative that is making our 10 campuses greener and modernizing energy infrastructure. 

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As SCCS continuously looks to make significant sustainability improvements across all of its campuses, we are excited to share on this page the efforts made by the students, staff, administration, and community to make a more "Sustainable SCCS."

 

This includes the addition of the first Zero Net Energy (ZNE) campus to the area at Bay View Elementary School by making it self-sufficient by producing as much energy as it consumes! This represents a culmination of nearly a decade of efforts focused on sustainability and positive environmental impact, and is one highlight of many to-date. There are are multitude of environmental benefits being delivered by and to come through Sustainable SCCS:

Lear more about Santa Cruz City Schools Sustainability planning, progress and approach.

  • Reduced energy usage and greenhouse gas production

  • Preserved environmental resources for future generations

  • Healthier, more comfortable classroom environments

  • Long term cost savings that get recycled right back into our schools

 

 

As we reflect on what we've done, we strive to always look ahead as well to ensure our future impact makes a more Sustainable SCCS.

WHAT WE'VE DONE

Done

These infrastructure improvements are part of a multi-phase program that has and will continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also lowering maintenance and operations costs.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

Impact

 The District has been implementing sustainable practices throughout its schools in many ways, leaving a greener footprint and less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our environment. These initiatives have saved:​

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6,417

Tons of GHG Emissions with LED Lighting

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20

Tons of GHG Emissions with Each New Electric Bus

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5,500

Pounds of Carbon Every Year with the Conversion to Native Landscaping and Turf Fields

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1

Ton of GHG Emissions Every Year with High Efficiency Trucks

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143

Tons of GHG with the Changes of the District's Water Fixtures

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84

Tons of GHG Emissions with the Implementation of Sweeping Water Stewardship

In addition, the District has:​

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Piloted boxed water through Food Services

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Implemented District-wide recycling programs

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Collaborated with the City of Santa Cruz Transportation Department to install sharrows & a new bike lane

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Painted the roofs of construction projects white to reduce heat

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Used 100% recyclable or compostable packaging in Food Services

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Transitioned all graduation celebrations to be balloon-free

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Worked with Groundswell to care for and replant native species in the County

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Added water retention tank systems underneath the turf field

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Printed all paper products on 100% recycled paper

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Conducted in-house composting in Food Services

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PROGRAM IMPACT:

Benefits

The District continues to expand modernized and improved efficiency within HVAC, lighting, and building automation systems, and bring further renewable energy sources to all campuses. We reduced CO2 by 9,601 tons since the start of the program! That’s equivalent to:

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980,070

Gallons of Fuel Saved

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160,189

Trees Preserved from Deforestation

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1,938

Vehicles Removed from Santa Cruz's Roads

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1,695

Homes Powered in Santa Cruz

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Net Zero!

Watch as Bay View "Flips the Switch" on their newest Solar Panels to become the first Elementary in Santa Cruz to be a Zero Net-Energy School!

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News

SCCS Sustainability in the News:

Curriculum

Sustainability in our Curriculum:

  • Education

    • Composting

    • Waste Reduction

    • Recycling

    • Watershed

    • Rainfall Monitoring

    • Environmental Impact and Social Justice

    • Climate Change

  • Field Trips

    • Watershed

    • O’Neill Sea Odyssey

  • Events and On-Campus Programs

    • Bike/Walk to School Days

    • Rain Garden and Native Plants

      • Green Apple Day of Service

    • City-Sponsored Assemblies (Banana Slug String Band and Zun Zun)

    • Earth Day Festival

    • Green Team

    • Science Day

    • Recycling, Composting and Greencycling Programs

    • Environmental Club

Where we're going:

At the completion of the Comprehensive Infrastructure Program, the District will be saving over $11 million over the new equipment’s lifetime of several decades. In addition, Bay View Elementary School serves as a benchmark through its new ZNE status as a target for all other campuses to reach!

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