In times of severe budget constraints how is a school to work on increasing Indoor Environmental Quality? Here are some resources for all school districts.
One resource is the US Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization, originator of the LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) rating system. The organization’s goal is to have every student in a green school in this generation. I know I’ve said it before but this is a wonderful goal, similar to putting a man on the moon, only better. With many volunteers in Green Schools Committees in most states, the USGBC is a great resource for green schools, for new construction and for renovations. A program developed here in our North Texas Green Schools Committee is Green in a Box, which contains information and Indoor Air Quality handheld testing tools in a lending library, so schools are able to check out a Green in a Box (GIB) kit that includes “7 Steps to a 21st Century Building Performance Using Your 20th Century Building”. This lending library is available to all schools, public and private, K-12 and higher education. A volunteer comes with each Green in a Box checkout. Green in a Box was developed in response to the question, “As a green building resource, what is the one thing the Committee can do to help schools with their needs?” Volunteers educate on the importance of providing a healthy place for students and staff while reducing expenses.
Volunteers are also available to speak to your group: administrators, school boards, school nurses, facilities and maintenance departments, teachers, students, PTA’s, parents, and the community to help educate on hows and whys of LEED and green schools.
A new program within the US Green Building Council is the Center for Green Schools. (I was thrilled to be invited to Washington DC to attend the formal launch of the Center for Green Schools in 2009.) The Center for Green Schools is envisioned as the resource that will help green schools become a reality. Check out the website for information.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency operates a Schools section to help schools to understand and develop IEQ programs. Their Tools for Schools program is a step-by-step aid, and their Healthy SEAT is a software program that is used to log data for IEQ programs. EPA also has student and teacher education opportunities.
Both USGBC and EPA can help schools implement green cleaning.
Many districts hire consultants when they’re in the planning stage of a project in order to help them achieve better learning outcomes by going green. However, many districts have no money for consultants yet want to go green. Here are some links as to how to obtain resources.
The EPA provides no-cost Green Schools Symposiums around the country - check their website. There is one in the planning stages for North Texas that is scheduled for April 23-24, 2012. We volunteers are working to provide scholarships for hotels for school personnel who want to attend, yet have no travel budget. Please stay tuned.
www.usgbc.org
www.centerforgreenschools.org
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/resources.html
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pubs.html
Green in a Box is a great idea, however it will always come down to cost. Schools always want to do what is best for kids, however it will only be able to do what it can afford.
ReplyDeleteCGibbs(TSU)
I love it! Great idea with the Green in a Box! The idea that it comes with a volunteer is even better. Awesome resources!
ReplyDeleteB. Irick *TSU)
I like the idea of a lending library checking out green revolutionaries to schools upon request. Green schools are an inevitable part of the sustainability evolution. (C. Scott-TSU)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I agree schools can only do what they can afford. Would love to help!
ReplyDelete