Last March, students and faculty at Wheeling Catholic Elementary School started selling reusable grocery bags in an effort to “go green.” The reusable bags were sold to reduce consumption and as a result promote “waste wise” customers. Student Hannah Seivertson, holds one of the three GreenSak grocery bags that can be purchased by calling the school at 304-233-1515. Photo Provided

WHEELING — From fueling a fleet of school buses with biodiesel to selling reusable grocery bags, many local schools are “going green” in an attempt to help the planet. Ohio County School Superintendent Lawrence Miller said going green for Ohio County Schools means looking to the future. Miller said school officials are actively working with the School Boarding Authority of West Virginia to gain environmental efficiency within schools. In terms of constructing a new $10 million performing arts center at Wheeling Park High School, Miller said the structure will be created in the best interest of the environment. “We are investigating our buildings for safety and environmental efficiency,” Miller said. “Obviously we will be incorporating that into the new structure when we build the performing arts center at Wheeling Park High School.” Additionally, the school system is involved with a biodiesel fuel program. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend, according to the National Biodiesel Board. Biodiesel also can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.