Awards, Recognition and Resources

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FLDOE 2016 Green Schools Sustainability Award

U.S. Department of Education
2016 Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award

2016April22 - Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has been named a 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability awardee. They are one of only 15 districts in the nation to be awarded this year. The announcement was made in Washington D.C. by the Managing Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Christy Goldfuss. She was joined by the U.S. Secretary of Education, John King.

OCPS was nominated by the Florida Department of Education. In 2015 the district recycling program kept more than 55 million pounds of materials out of landfills. Since 2013 the program has saved more than $600,000.

Florida Green School Award 2013-14

2014Oct09 - The Florida Green Schools Alliance recognized Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) for the districts long-range sustainability strategic objectives and targets. The district saved more than $1.5 million and 11 million pounds of Carbon Dioxide emissions from being released into the air during the 2013-14 school year. In addition, the OCPS Transportation Services department saved 378,513 gallons of diesel fuel by reducing the idling time of buses and increasing the use of biodiesel, a fuel additive.

OCPS department representatives from Environmental Compliance, Facilities, and Health Services accepted the top District Green School Award during the Florida Green School Network Award banquet at the Streamsong Resort in Polk County on October 8, 2014.

2013 EPA Great Start Award

2013Oct04 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV recognized Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) for initiating a comprehensive plan to improve indoor air quality at more than 185 facilities owned by the district. The director of Environmental Compliance, Jennifer Fowler, accepted the EPA's national Great Start Award at the Florida School Plant Management Association annual in-service training where OCPS and the EPA were presenting.
The EPA's Great Start Award recognizes schools and districts that are taking steps to make the indoor air quality in their buildings healthier for students and staff. The award is one of three categories of recognition under the EPA's Indoor Air Quality "Tools for Schools" program. The program was developed to help schools reduce exposures to indoor environmental contaminants.

As a Great Start awardee, the district will have access to training, regular EPA updates, and technical assistance from EPA indoor air experts. For more information, please visit the EPA's website.

Orange County Public Schools