Things Schools Can Do To Go Green
1. Educate students! This is a school's number one
role in going green: change the mindset and behavior of the next
generation. Schools should teach students about global warming, climate
change, renewable resources and all of the exciting technologies
utilizing these, about recycling of solid wastes and water, and about
green building.
2. Build Green. Make all necessary building renovations or new buildings
green. Building green means complying with green building standards such
as LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design), administered by
the U.S. Green Building Council. By meeting these standards schools can
create a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving
energy, resources and money
3. Change the lights. According to the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), if every home in America replaced just one incandescent
light bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), in
one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes.
That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that
of about 800,000 cars. Schools represent the largest non-residential
building sector and replacing the bulbs would have an enormous impact.
For information on the safety of these bulbs, see the article.
4. Reduce Paper. Minimize the use of paper in handouts to parents. In
many cases parent communications can occur through email. When printing
is necessary, use both sides of the paper.
5. Recycle and Reuse. Recycling can include traditional recycling pickup
of paper, metal, and glass products, as well as composting associated
with a gardening program. Schools can recycle their printer cartridges,
and earn money for the school for doing so through organizations such as
Planet Green. Schools can go further and involve the community by
creating art projects such as a mosaic mural out of recycled materials
from chipped coffee mugs, cracked china, stones, seashells, beads and
other non-porous items that ordinarily would have been headed for the
garbage can.
6. Grow a garden, and integrate gardening into the curriculum. School
gardens give students a wonderful outdoor botany laboratory, as well as
education in sustainable environments, local growing seasons, and the
nutritional value of locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs.
7. Stop Idling. Rethink student transportation. Bus and car idling in
parking lots leads to high levels of emissions into the atmosphere, so
set up the pickup and drop off to minimize idling time. Schools or their
booster clubs can help by setting up carpool groups. Encourage students
to ride their bikes or walk.
8. Eat Organic. Engage caterers for student lunches that use local and
organically raised foods. Great for the environment, healthy for the
kids, and even an exciting learning opportunity.
9. Conserve Energy. Turn off computers at the end of the day. Many
schools have large computer labs, and turning them off, rather than
leaving them in hibernation mode, can make a significant difference to
electricity consumption.
10. Use biodegradable cups and utensils for class parties and snack
time; keep a stash of biodegradable plates and utensils.
About the author
Sarita Douglas is the Co-Founder and Program Director of the U.S. Green Schools Foundation (http://www.usgreenschools.org). The mission of the U.S. Green Schools Foundation is to provide consulting services and grants to enhance the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of K-12 schools, and to enrich K-12 curricula by providing educational resources related to the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of schools..