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Green Schools and Education

From the time our children are very small, the majority of them are sent off to school. Considering the amount of time that they spend in these schools, it is wise to make sure that they are learning about the environment and ways to protect it, as well as the other fundamentals of education. From preschoolers who are helping to grow a garden in a land lab to colleges who are switching to all e-book text formats, schools can do more than just teach reading, writing and arithmetic and it should teach by example from every possible aspect.

Where Should the School Start?

The building's design should be one that takes into account as many green aspects as possible. From using natural lighting to reduce the amount of electricity, to good air ventilation to reduce the need for energy for cooling, the building should be built to save money and resources. For school districts that are low on funding, small improvements should be done as allowable to help boost their existing building's energy efficiency.

How important is the Impact of School?

Think first of how long children are in school, to begin with. For the average child, they spend about 8 hours away from home at the school building surrounded by teachers and friends that may not have the same level of eco-awareness as you and your family. They may be more dedicated or far less. Peer pressure can be a very hard thing to turn away from, especially if it means that you get to do less work.

School is in session for 180 days of the year- which means that they are open through different seasons, this means different types of energy usage and waste potential. Make sure that the school's impact is as small as possible. Even if, you have to pull yourself out of your comfort zone and take the first step, it is imperative that it be done. You never know, the other parent's may be waiting for you to take the lead so that they can join in.

What else can the school do?

Make sure that the school has had an energy audit and then post the results for everyone to read. People are often shocked by the amount of energy they are actually using when it is shown to them in black and white.

Also, make sure that turning off equipment, lights and appliances is standard practice and that unplugging them over the weekend and during holiday breaks is being done as well. Appliances can continue to draw electricity even when they are not turned on.

Check the level of the recycling program at the school. If it is limited to a classroom or two or not present, spearhead the campaign to start one that encompasses the entire school. Do not stop just at paper products- recycle everything that can be. Make it into a competition with a school across town to see who can recycle the most.

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