The Importance of Green Schools
What is a Green School?
A high-performance green school is an energy-, material- and resource-efficient education facility optimized for the health and productivity of its occupants and users. It is designed, constructed and operated to the greatest extent possible within the carrying capacity of the planet.
Why are Green Schools important?
With utility costs continuing to rise, school budgets are under severe
pressure throughout our region. Green schools cost less to operate, freeing up resources to truly improve students’ education. Improved indoor air quality, proper acoustic design and enhanced daylighting make it easier and more comfortable for students to learn by reducing absenteeism and improving student performance. When used to enrich curriculum, high-performance
green schools provide a wealth of
hands-on learning opportunities that anticipate a rapidly changing job market. This gives our children a head start for
a healthy, prosperous future.
The bottom line? Investing in high-performance green schools is an investment in our children and their future.
Across the United States, school
districts large and small are realizing
the benefits of green schools. Ditto
with universities and colleges.
Students, parents, teachers and community members are making the difference by letting elected officials know they want their schools built, operated and maintained green.
In many ways, the most powerful proponent or voice in the high-performance green-school movement is the students. The current K-12 school- and college-age student populations have adopted the environmental movement as one of their own social, political and philosophical goals. That's good news for educational facility executives, as well as school Boards and teachers, who want to tap into that enthusiasm and green their schools and campuses. Students are also one the best resources for educating mom, dad, brothers and sisters about the importance of sustainability to our world.
What Can You Do at Your School District or Campus?
• First of all, create a team of representatives from all groups and departments to brainstorm and discuss green strategies ... and implement curriculum that deals specifically with sustainability.
• Sell your school Board and administration on energy-efficiency projects by demonstrating results and using metrics that they can understand such as relating green change to the number of teacher salaries per upgrade. For example, "We can pay for "x" number of teacher salaries with the savings" is language that school Boards, elected officials and parents can understand.
• Implement sustainable operation and maintenance strategies such as green cleaning and recycling programs.
• Pay particular attention to upgrades that allow flexibility in the future.
• Take advantage of opportunities to demonstrate and teach students how to live more energy efficiently. In university and college settings, work with the student life office to get out the green message. You'll be pleasantly surprised how many of our campuses already have a student green group already in place. Utilize your biggest, least expensive resource by getting students involved. They may very well have already started green projects.
Green Schools Websites
Information is power. And green-building information is, seemingly, everywhere. Below you will find
links to resources to help you learn more about the importance of greening our schools, new and existing. Many more can be found
by searching such key words as
high-performance green schools, healthy schools, LEED for
Schools, energy-efficient schools, greening K12 curriculum, etc.
If you wish to add a resource
website to this listing, send your suggestion to Lee Cooke, our Chapter’s Executive Director. Your submission will be vetted by the Chapter’s volunteer leadership.
The links provided below are shown for reference only. The USGBC South Florida Chapter is not responsible nor can be held liable for any linked content, claims or representations within the websites listed.
Of course, we start our Green Schools Resources List with the US Green Building Council.
• The USGBC's Green School Buildings webpages provide a wealth of resources and education tied to this critically important subject.
• Our region's respective school
districts' green schools initiatives
can be found below:
Indian River
w link to come
St. Lucie
w link to come
Okeechobee
w link to come
Martin
w link to come
Palm Beach
w Green Schools Recognition Program
w PBC Schools Go Green
w PBC's Green Schools Initiatives and Lessons Learned
Broward
w link to come
Miami-Dade
w link to come
• Our State of Florida's green schools initiatives can be found here:
w Serve to Preserve
w Sustainable Florida
• The Environmental Protection Agency has several webpages devoted to elementary-aged children, their parents and teachers:
w Environmental Kids Club
w Energy Star Kids
• The US Department of Energy offers green energy K-12 lesson plans and activities that are downloadable here. Topics include Energy Basics, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Environment, Solar Energy and more.
• The US Department of Energy also has an EnergySmart Schools section of its excellent website.
• Alliance to Save Energy's Green Schools Program
• US Energy Information Administration -- Energy Kids
LEED Schools in South Florida / Treasure Coast
• Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing,
Boca Raton -- Gold Certified
• Pine Jog Elementary School,
West Palm Beach -- Gold Certified
• Pine Jog Elementary School's Energy Management System website
• Saint Andrews School (Lower School Addition),
Boca Raton -- Gold Certified
Green Energy Classroom Competitions
• National Junior Solar Sprint/Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competitions -- This DOE program challenges student teams in grades 6-8 to construct model solar and hydrogen fuel cell cars.
• National Science Bowl -- This DOE-sponsored academic competition brings teams of high school students together to answer questions on scientific topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth, computer and general science.
• Council of Educational Facility Planners, International (CEFPI) Design Competition -- This annual competition (open to middle school students) challenges students to design their
schools to enhance learning, conserve resources, be environmentally responsive, and engage the surrounding community.
• Foundation for Water & Energy Education: Energize our Future College Scholarships -- College scholarships are available for five high school students in the northwestern United States who write the best essays about the Northwest's energy future.
• Igniting Creative Energy Challenge -- This educational competition encourages K-12 students to learn more about energy and the environment.
• National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Youth Awards -- The NEED Youth Awards Program combines academic competition with recognition to acknowledge everyone involved in NEED programs during the year and to recognize those who achieve excellence in energy education in their schools and communities.
• ExploraVision -- This competition, administered by the National Science Teachers Association, encourages K-12 students to create technologies of the future.
• JETS: Junior Engineering Technical Society -- This annual engineering design competition challenges students in grades 9-12 to design and build an assistive technology device to help a person with severe disabilities succeed in his or her workplace.
• Smart Challenge (formerly EV Challenge) -- This competition educates middle and high school students about innovative electric vehicle technology.
• The Real World Design Challenge (Grades 9-12) -- This annual event provides high school students, grades 9-12, the opportunity to work on real world engineering challenges in a team environment.
Green Schools Challenge
The Green Schools Challenge is Dream in Green’s innovative program for educating K-12 students about environmental and energy challenges by getting them involved in real-world solutions at their schools. These student-lead solutions save money while conserving energy and water, and reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently in its fourth year, the Green Schools Challenge serves nearly 50 schools in Miami-Dade County and, thanks to a partnership with the Green Schools Committee of the Broward Branch of the USGBC South Florida Chapter, three pioneering schools in Broward. Dream in Green is a South Florida-based nonprofit organization that partners with schools, local governments and businesses to bring about behavior change in students ... and their parents! Learn more about the Green School Challenge.
