The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council is now accepting applications to attend this summer’s School Sustainability Leaders Summit from June 27-29. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 30, 2012.
The Summit will be held at USGBC offices in DC and is designed for school district or school system staff who are the point-people for environmental sustainability within their organization. It is intentionally small in scale–around fifty attendees–allowing for very targeted learning and the opportunity to join and connect with a network of supportive professionals. Read more…
Energy conservation and awareness are major topics of discussion on our Listserv this week because sustainability is rapidly becoming part of the core mission for many education institutions. Re-thinking how you manage energy consumption and the “carbon impact” of your campus can help generate savings from your energy budget.
But many of our peers aren’t sure where or how to get started. With budgets tighter than ever, many organizations can’t afford extensive energy upgrade projects. However, it’s important to remember that even something as simple as an incentive program that encourages behavioral changes for building occupants (students, teachers/faculty, administrators) is a step in the right direction.
Faced with this challenge, here’s how one member of the Listserv responded: Read more…
The Center for Green Schools at USGBC is joining with Jim Elder of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy to host a webcast for K12 schools interested in pursuing a Green Ribbon Award through the U.S. Department of Education. We’ll be reviewing the criteria and discussing the application process in detail with webcast attendees. Generally, applications to state departments of education are due in the next couple of weeks, so the need for technical assistance is immediate.
For more information about the Green Ribbon Schools award, visit the Department of Education’s web site on the program.
Green Ribbon Schools: Application Assistance
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 4:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (New York, GMT-05:00)
Event number: 753 402 875
Event password: Gr33n1
Event address for attendees: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/onstage/g.php?d=753402875&t=a
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239
Access code: 753 402 875
One important aspect of energy conservation programs in educational institutions is keeping building occupants (students, teachers, staff) informed about your goals and getting them involved in reducing electricity usage. One method to keep everyone in the loop and share your successes is a newsletter.
Lisa Randall of Santa Fe Public Schools shared an example of her district’s newsletter and explained how it is an important component of their conservation program: http://www.facilitymastersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/01/Example-Energy-Conservation-Newsletter-1-12-12.pdf
“Email is a great way to keep staff, students, and community members informed about projects, construction, energy management efforts, etc. I put out an energy management/recycling/sustainability newsletter, and although it’s a ton of work, it keeps people up to date with our efforts, challenges, and successes. Knowledge truly is power. We are looking into energy dashboards, which after submetering electricity, gas, and water, will allow each site to engage more meaningfully with their school’s energy use, and begin to set school goals for reduction.”
Lisa Randall – Energy Conservation Program Coordinator – Santa Fe Public Schools
I am sharing the following note from Anisa at the Center for Green Schools with you.
Thank you for indicating your interest in learning more about the U.S. Green Building Council and the Center for Green Schools on the November K12 Masters webcast about Green Ribbon Schools.
Our team thought you would be interested in learning more about what the Center has been up to over the past few months. Below you will find our most recent newsletter, including updates on our Greenbuild Conference & Expo, the Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Program and the Center’s recent poll on green schools.
To sign up to receive our newsletters quarterly, please create a site user account through USGBC.org and subscribe to the new Center for Green Schools newsletter under “subscriptions.”
Please feel free to get in touch at any time. We are in contact with facilities staff around the country who are implementing healthy, more efficient measures in their schools, and we are always looking to grow our understanding about what schools and school districts are up to.
Happy Holidays!
Anisa
Anisa Baldwin Metzger, LEED AP BD+C
Green Schools Fellowship Program Manager
Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council
2101 L Street NW, Suite 500 | Washington DC | 20037
Cell: 202.701.0681
www.centerforgreenschools.org
As another take away from today’s webcast on the Green Ribbon Schools Awards Program, here are some additional websites you can visit for more helpful resources on keeping your educational facilities healthy, green and energy efficient:
One of our speakers from today’s Facility Masters Webcast on the Green Ribbon Schools Awards Program – Britney Thompson from Fayette County Schools, KY – shared several helpful links on her district’s Sustainability Website regarding their sustainability initiatives. You can get more information and see samples of their sustainability manuals, reports and more.
We have also added some resources on Green, Sustainable and Healthy Educational Facilities to the Environmental Issues and Risk Management area of our website. Those documents include: Sustainability Handbook for Schools, Wellness Policy, Green Ribbon Schools Award Fact Sheet, Carbon Dioxide Emissions Calculator.
Insert language for implementation of smart/green cleaning
Set parameters for the selection process
Require vender to show how they will implement green
Include training component in specification
On line ordering system
Just in time delivery
Include all your needs
Type of chemicals GS 37
◦ Low VOC
◦ No antimicrobial
Wax products GS 40
◦ Wax Zinc free
◦ Strippers Butyl Free
Paper products GS 9
◦ Recycled content
Toilet Tissue 20%
Hand Towels 40%
Liners 10%
◦ Chlorine Free
◦ Touch free towels
Equipment
◦ No/less chemical required
◦ Low chemicals
◦ Ergonomically designed