Policy

I was a little shocked and saddened by the information found in “Green Schools Don’t Make the Grade.” If schools are to spend six percent more on green buildings than non-green, I would expect some savings. However the results shown in this article show that “In no case was the green school the most energy efficient in the district.”¹ This article makes me think that other “green” efforts must be in place in order to reduce costs and to be more earth friendly.

This year, in my school district, we had a major energy saving campaign. Administrators, teachers, and students worked together to turn off lights when leaving the classroom unattended, unplugging “power vampires” (Those items that suck electricity when plugged in, even though they are not in use. Ex: cell phone chargers), removing microwaves and refrigerators from classrooms, and turning down/up the thermostat at the end of the day. This campaign started near the beginning of the year and by March our district had saved $82,000!

Some of the schools that I visit recycle plastic, aluminum, and paper; use plastic washable trays in the cafeteria instead of paper/Styrofoam plates; and have began using ceramic teacher coffee mugs instead of Styrofoam coffee cups. Many teachers use their teacher webpages to post their notes, presentations, worksheets, and other resources in order to go as “paperless” as possible. Students can also access and turn in their assignments online for a more paperless classroom. Not all of the schools in my district participate in these “green” activities. When I think about how much money was saved when the entire district worked together, I wonder what could be accomplished if each school really stressed “green” activities.

¹Myers, T. (2008, August 28). Green schools don’t make the grade. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba622.