Gov. Jay Inslee visited Richard Gordon Elementary in Kingston last week to witness strides in energy efficiency within the educational sector.

Inslee engaged with students and staff, celebrating the school’s commitment to sustainability through recent infrastructure upgrades, a North Kitsap School District news release states.

The governor received a briefing during his visit about the energy-efficient HVAC heating and cooling system that was installed at Gordon in 2021. The entire project was completed in 2023. The project involved replacing the outdated infrastructure at the school. The school also received upgraded LED lighting, enhancing classroom illumination while curbing energy consumption.

Inslee underscored the importance of such initiatives, highlighting their alignment with broader statewide efforts, sharing that those endeavors contribute to our collective responsibility in safeguarding the planet for the future. He also shared a hopeful outlook, emphasizing the potential for future initiatives to receive funding through the Climate Commitment Act.

The HVAC system and lighting upgrades at Gordon were made possible through the 2018 voter-approved capital levy, which allocated $40 million to enhance school security, and health and safety measures. Additionally, funding from a Department of Commerce grant helped, per the release.

Interim NKSD superintendent Rachel Davenport said, “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Governor Inslee for recognizing the importance of these improvements.”