Have you ever looked at the water fountain filling stations and wondered where they came from? According to Ms. Regnier, it all started back three and a half years ago when the students decided to help Lafayette conserve energy. There was a small group that formed together called E=USE². They came up with a list of ways to spend our “Go Green to Earn Green” award money. The group consisted of students from science classes who voted on purchasing the water bottle refill station that have been installed onto some of our water fountains.

The “Go Green to Earn Green” money is awarded by the district when schools reduce the amount of energy used. They compare how much power used now to how much used last year. When we use less energy, the district’s expenses decrease and we reduce our carbon footprint on the Earth. Some of the district’s money that was saved by conserving energy is then paid to the school as a reward. This reward can be used for sustainability and wellness projects, which can save more energy, recycle, and help the student/staff program. We can continue to earn this reward money for our school, as long as we continue to save energy.

The stations fill water bottles in only a few seconds, encouraging students to use re-usable bottles, which are more environmentally friendly than disposable bottles. The water refill stations also encourage students to drink water, which is good for their wellness.

The impact of the refill stations can be measured quantitatively. Look at each station and you will see a counter that tells you exactly how many water bottles have been filled since it was installed. The refill station in the math department hallway was the first station installed in Lafayette and is the most likely to have the highest count.