Five years after San Francisco hired its first sustainability director for the city's school system, the controversial decision is paying off in environmental benefits and substantial energy savings.
"There were more than a few skeptics when San Francisco city officials foisted an environmental guru on the school district five years ago," writes Jill Tucker. "But now, with some results to look at, it appears the guru gambit wasn't a mistake."
Initiatives led by Nik Kaestner such as a tree-planting campaign, introducing water bottle refilling stations and getting teachers to better manage the temperature of their rooms have produced environmental and cost benefits. "In the 2011-12 academic year, city schools saved $363,000 in energy costs compared with the year before - about an 8 percent reduction overall. And in 2012-13, as of June, schools had already saved $455,000 over the prior year."
"Still, despite the cost savings, some question whether the district needs to pay someone's salary to make those arguments, especially since it reduces the amount the district would get to pay for extras like art and physical education needs, which is what Proposition H generally funds," notes Tucker.
FULL STORY: S.F. schools gambit on green guru pays off

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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