The Smithfield School Committee requires that school department operations employ design, construction, purchasing, and operations strategies that minimize long term operating costs, including energy and water costs. Schools that incorporate sustainable design principles can both ensure an efficient school operations and can contribute to efforts to minimize waste, energy and water use, and air pollution.
The federal Energy Star program provides a way to easily identify energy efficient products, including computers, monitors, copy machines, printers, scanners, and refrigerators.
Whenever possible, all new purchases of equipment and appliances for the district shall be compliant with the specifications provided through the Energy Star program and the purchase of low efficiency products, including halogen torchieres and portable electric resistance heaters, is prohibited. Appliances not currently rated by the Energy Star program are excluded from this requirement.