Use Resources Sustainably
Taken collectively, schools are major consumers of
energy, paper, food, water, cleaning products, and other resources, and generate waste, pollution, and greenhouse
gas emissions. They also have the potential to use resources efficiently, become
producers of their own power, and serve as models of environmental sustainability for their communities. This potential, combined with their ability to teach the next generation and communities
of families by example, makes schools
strategic actors in the drive to transform the world’s energy
and resource consumption from a destructive model towards more sustainable
patterns of development.
For a fuller discussion of sustainability issues, read Pillar 2: Sustainable Resource Use in our Report. Read about toxics, food, and gardens and other issues here. To get started on a more sustainable path right now, review the articles and resources on energy, purchasing, the 5Rs, water, and even your events and fundraising:
Green Fundraising
Energy
Energize For the Prize!
Energy Upgrade California just launched a new fundraiser for schools: When you sign up for a money-saving home energy upgrade, Energy Upgrade California will award the Alameda County school of your choice $100 - just for you participating in the program! Plus, the school that signs up the most households between now and April will earn an additional $5,000.
Saving Big with "Solar Master Plans"
As it gets chillier and darker, who couldn't use a little more solar power? This month, KyotoUSA unveiled Solar Master Plans -- comprehensive assessment and planning tools to make schools energy independent -- for three California school districts. The energy savings will free up funds to improve the educational environment in myriad ways. And students will learn valuable lessons about solar power and renewable energy.
Schools and Districts: Join the State Electronics Challenge!
November 3rd, 2011
November 3rd, 2011
Looking to reduce costs, decrease energy usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce solid waste and hazardous waste, and avoid the use of toxic materials, including lead and mercury? Become a State Electronics Challenge Partner to purchase greener electronic products and manage and dispose of them with a clear conscience. It's easy and it's free.
The NEED Project: Energy Education Resources
The NEED Project began in the 1970s as a one-day celebration of energy education: National Energy Education Day. Growing from a one day celebration with a few NEED activities -- like the ever-popular and newly-updated Energy Carnival -- NEED designs and delivers annually updated curriculum and support for virtually any classroom and at any grade level.
PEAK Energy Education Program
The Energy Coalition’s PEAK program is a free, comprehensive standards-based educational program designed to empower elementary and middle school students with the knowledge to manage energy use in their homes, schools and communities. Through hands-on learning, students are inspired to take action to create a more sustainable world and to educate others about how to use energy wisely.
Use Energy Star's Computer Power Management (CPM)
To free up hundreds or even thousands of dollars with little or no upfront costs, activate computer power management features on all PCs and laptops within your district’s network. Activating power management on a computer and monitor can save your school district $60 – $100 per computer per year, which can add up to serious savings. And by saving energy, you're preventing air pollution and helping the environment.
UPDATE: California Schools Chief Leads Drive for Energy Efficiency in Schools
California's State Superintendent Tom Torlakson wants to ensure that school construction projects incorporate energy efficiency and renewable power, so he's creating a "Schools of the Future" team to make it easier for schools to build energy efficiency into every project.
High Tech, Big Impact: Energy Efficiency Tools for Schools
The huge majority of the nation's over 130,000 schools are significant energy consumers and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Schools can lead the way in energy efficiency and sustainable resource use by taking advantage of high-tech 21st Century tools to drastically reduce energy use.
"Energy Efficient Schools Initiative" Launched
By engaging students in hands-on STEM projects, the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative plans to introduce its green experiential education model in 500 schools by the end of 2012.
Update: Solar Powered Schools
Creative financing options allow schools to produce electricity, save money, reduce greenhouse gases and provide a valuable learning opportunity for students and adults alike.
Safe Routes to School
Get kids walking and bicycling to school to promote exercise, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and save gas and money - all while having fun!
Energy Efficiency Dashboard Wins Award
For the 2nd year in a row, QA Graphics’ Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard was named the best Energy Conservation product by Environmental Design + Construction and Sustainable Facility magazines’ annual Readers Choice Awards.
Beyond the Bake Sale...New Solar Fundraising for Schools
Sungevity, a Diamond-certified solar installer based in Oakland, California, is partnering with public and independent schools in California, Arizona and Colorado to raise money for schools while helping school communities go solar.
Energy Conservation Checklists & Tools
Use these checklists, audit tools, lesson plans, action project ideas, and resources to save energy and track progress at your school. Part of the Green Star Schools recognition program.
Green Purchasing
Green Back-to-School Supplies
Your environmentally-friendly purchases for school can make a huge difference. Here's why:
14 billion pencils are produced every year, many made with wood from ancient forests. Americans use about 31.5 million tons of printing and writing paper each year, requiring 535 million trees (most from virgin tree fiber) and 12 billion gallons of oil to make.
Green Schools Buying Guide
We've launched a new Green Schools Buying Guide to help schools make purchasing decisions that will protect children's health and the environment. Schools spend billions of dollars on facilities, energy and water, office and school supplies, cleaners and pesticides, food and play equipment. Why not leverage these funds to benefit our health and the environment? We can! Through Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) or Green Purchasing.
Watch Webinar: Green Purchasing for Schools Saves Money and Reduces Your Environmental Footprint
In this recorded webinar we will introduce you to the Green Schools Buying Guide and other resources. Leverage your school's buying power towards protecting people and the planet. Recorded on September 11, 2013.
The Five R's
6 Resources for Becoming a Zero Waste School
Use these guides, tips and tools to help your school reduce waste, save money and build a better future.
Bringing Green Together: Sustainability Management Systems Unite School Sustainability Efforts
School districts across the country have been making great strides in their greening efforts. What many districts still lack, however, is a shared vision, set of goals, strategies, and implementation path to drive their sustainability initiatives in the same direction – using a whole-school and whole-district approach that engages students, staff and teachers working for a common, more sustainable future along the way. Enter the sustainability management system, or “SMS”.
Changing Paper Consumption
Your school can protect ancient forests by recycling and buying recycled paper
Districts Save Paper, Time, and Money with Paperless Governance Solutions
BoardDocs, a Web 2.0 paperless e-governance solution, is helping school districts save paper, time, and money.
First Green Modular Classrooms Arrive at Albany High
Who says schools can't have state-of-the-art, budget friendly green classrooms buildings? Four Gen7 modular classrooms made their Bay Area debut at Albany High School in Albany on June 3rd. The classrooms offer a range of eco-friendly features, an inspiring learning environment and a budget-friendly price tag.
Of Dryer Lint, Plastics and Petroleum Products:
2011 Earth Day Stories
It was all about the impact of plastics at Santa Barbara's Montecito School's Earth Day Movie Night. At Cleveland Elementary in San Francisco, students enjoyed a hands-on Earth Day science fair outdoors. For their Earth Day project, students at Wade Thomas, a K-5 in San Anselmo, entered a Creative Reuse Contest and won a valuable prize.
Prospect Sierra School's Zero Waste Lunch Efforts - Now on Eco-Company TV!
Fourth graders at Prospect Sierra lead the way to measure and reduce school food waste with an annual waste audit. This year, several alumni, now in high school, returned to see how the program they helped initiate is making a difference. Watch the new video by Eco-Company TV.
School Compost Programs: Pathways to Success
Kary Schumpert and Cyndra Dietz, Eco-Cycle describe how composting can help schools achieve zero waste and provide the how, why, and steps to follow.
Schools and Districts: Join the State Electronics Challenge!
November 3rd, 2011
November 3rd, 2011
Looking to reduce costs, decrease energy usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce solid waste and hazardous waste, and avoid the use of toxic materials, including lead and mercury? Become a State Electronics Challenge Partner to purchase greener electronic products and manage and dispose of them with a clear conscience. It's easy and it's free.
Textile Recycling: Get a Bin and Get Paid for Recycling
Recycling at school now goes beyond bottles and cans, and textile recycling is being used by some schools to raise funds while helping others. 7th Generation Recycling offers bins to schools for collection and recycling, and pays schools 2 cents a pound for clean old clothes, shoes, hats, and household textiles.
Update: Green Dream Contest Winners Make Haste to Reduce Waste
The winners of our Green Dream Contest -- King Chavez Academy in San Diego and Berkeley High School -- have made exciting progress in just a few months. Berkeley High School’s Green Team undertook a school-wide garbage audit as one of its first actions towards reducing its waste. King Chavez Preparatory Academy is taking their waste reduction efforts to the next level, recycling more types of materials.
UPDATE: Students Mob Pizza Parlor to Promote Greening
Prospect Sierra middle school students were the first school group to organize a "Carrotmob." Their actions have had a huge impact on waste reduction at the Emeryville Public Market.
Waste Reduction & Recycling Checklists & Tools
Use these checklists, audit tools, lesson plans, action project ideas, and resources to reduce waste, increase recycling, reuse, and compost, and track progress at your school. Part of the Green Star Schools recognition program.
Zero Waste: Schools and Kids Lead the Way
All over the west, schools are hot-beds of zero waste activism, taking exciting steps to reduce waste as part of shrinking their environmental footprints. These three examples from San Diego, Hawaii and Santa Cruz are leading the way. Read about what they're doing and use the tools below to join the movement.
Zero-Waste School Events: Guide & Infographic
Use our Guide to Zero-Waste School Events. Events that are FUN don't have to make waste by the TON!
Water
Short Video Tells "The Real Story of Water"
"The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water," a short animated video, exposes the dangers of current water management practices and offers simple common sense solutions to sustainably managing this precious resource.
California Drought and Why Schools Should Conserve Water
by Malcolm MacLeod, Intern
March 7th, 2014
by Malcolm MacLeod, Intern
March 7th, 2014
Schools in California are being asked to cut water use by 20%. Use our tools and tips to help save water at your school - in California and beyond.
Water Quality & Conservation Checklists and Tools
Checklists, audit tools, lessons plans, and resources to help your school save water on campus. Part of the Green Star Schools recognition program.