Eight schools in the Issaquah School District have been honored for cutting waste, conserving resources, and reducing costs through the King County Green Schools Program.

The program has three levels that involve students and staff in learning about and practicing natural resource conservation.

Maple Hills Elementary School achieved level one status through waste reduction and recycling.

Four Issaquah schools received level two honors for such energy conservation practices as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and setting thermostats between 68-70 degrees. They are Clark Elementary School in Issaquah, Issaquah High School, Skyline High School in Sammamish and Sunny Hills Elementary School in Sammamish.

Three district schools achieved level three status for sustaining their level one west reduction practices and their level two energy conservation strategies, and educating students and staff on how to conserve water and protect water quality. They are Endeavour, Grand Ridge and Sunset elementary schools, all in Issaquah.

The Issaquah School District is using 5.4 percent less energy now than it did in 2000-01, even though it has added 25 percent more square footage in new and renovated school facilities. Overall, the district has saved about $7 million on utility bills by reducing waste disposal volumes and consumption of energy and water.

“All Issaquah School District schools participate in the King County Green Schools Program because it has helped our students and staff to reduce waste, recycle, and conserve other resources such as energy and water,” said Issaquah School District Resource Conservation Manager John Macartney. “Compostable materials collection also has been established in nearly all our schools, with help from the city of Issaquah and King County, and that has added to the overall culture of conservation throughout the school district.”