The hillsides may be turning yellow and orange, but Mont La Salle in Napa is certifiably green. The home to the Provincial Headquarters for the District of San Francisco and for the De La Salle Institute was proclaimed a Green Business by Napa County during this past year. It took more than a year to complete the required comprehensive retrofitting and adjustments to meet the county’s environmental benchmarks for saving energy and water, and for diminishing waste output.

The rigorous process covered all facets of operations. Light fixtures on the campus were replaced with the most efficient fluorescent lighting available. Motion sensors were installed in closets and storage places, and toilets, faucets and showers were retrofitted for water conservation features. Air conditioning ducts were sealed, and windows were tinted to reduce cooling costs. (The system continues to receive regular checks to ensure it is operating at optimum energy efficiency.) To reduce waste, every office was provided with recycling bins, while employees were encouraged to follow practices intended to reduce paper use. Environmentally friendly cleaning products replaced those which presented hazards to health and to the surroundings, and a preferred purchasing policy was established, favoring the use of recycled-content paper products.

The De La Salle Institute has been already recognized for its recycling efforts with two awards. In April 2009, it was the recipient of both a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition as well as a California State Legislature Certificate of Recognition for its effort to support the greening of the environment.