The Evergreen School is among the 64 schools announced as 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

OLYMPIA - The second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools honorees and inaugural District Sustainability Awardees, nominated by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, were announced today by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, along with Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Bob Persiacepe.

The Evergreen School in Shoreline is among the 64 schools announced as 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. The selected districts and schools are being honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

“These Green Ribbon awards are the result of concerted efforts to reduce environmental impact and increase efficiency,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction. “Their work shows that we can provide students and staff with healthy places to learn and work, cut costs and, at the same time, provide enhanced environmental education opportunities that better prepare students for the future.”

The Evergreen School in Shoreline

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools.”