But many of us are still behind the times. This includes my son's elementary school.
This is why I'm entering my sons school into the Green School Makeover Competition, presented by Pureology
I want my son to be able to learn in a natural enviornment. There are plenty of studies that show that the enviornment that a student learns in DIRECTLY impacts how the student learns, how much they learn, and thus, how they progress.
Here are a few studies that may interest you:
The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research
The Role of Physical Environment on Student Health and Education in Green Schools
Need more? There are PLENTY here.
From PeachyGreen.com:
Improved health and productivity are additional benefits that can result from greener schools. In fact, anecdotal evidence demonstrates that cleaner air, brighter, natural light and closely monitored heat and cooling has had a positive impact across the board.
Some ask: "Why is this important? Our Kids have buildings to learn in, right? They worked when we were kids!"
Imagine this:
Half its classrooms are 1950s-vintage portables with yellowing plexiglass windows, and grass-clogged cracks riddle the asphalt playground. Signs in the bathrooms warn students not to drink the water. In some classrooms, students can see their breath on cold days, and one day last spring, a hot-water pipe burst and a group of students had to huddle to the side of the classroom while their teacher and staffers mopped up the mess.
WHY GREEN SCHOOLS?
When a school goes green, children benefit—as well as the environment! Green schools lead to:
Improved student performance. When children learn in classrooms with natural daylight, improved sound quality and non-toxic building materials such as non-VOC carpets and paints, test scores can improve as much as 20%. Attendance also improves!
More funds for student resources. When green upgrades are made to a school, water and energy costs can be reduced by as much as 40%. These savings can be channeled back into resources that directly benefit students, such as textbooks, computers and other essentials.
Reduced carbon footprint. Greening a school significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.
GREENER SCHOOLS = A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Need more? There are PLENTY here.
From PeachyGreen.com:
Improved health and productivity are additional benefits that can result from greener schools. In fact, anecdotal evidence demonstrates that cleaner air, brighter, natural light and closely monitored heat and cooling has had a positive impact across the board.
Some ask: "Why is this important? Our Kids have buildings to learn in, right? They worked when we were kids!"
Imagine this:
Half its classrooms are 1950s-vintage portables with yellowing plexiglass windows, and grass-clogged cracks riddle the asphalt playground. Signs in the bathrooms warn students not to drink the water. In some classrooms, students can see their breath on cold days, and one day last spring, a hot-water pipe burst and a group of students had to huddle to the side of the classroom while their teacher and staffers mopped up the mess.
Unfortunately, this is the REALITY of one of the local elemantary schools in my son's school district. YES, I said elementary. Our 6 and 7yr olds. This is how they're learning.
My son's school could benefit from going green. From water conservation to waste reduction and everything in between. This is important to me, because this impacts my son's future. My son is special needs. So many things make learning difficult for him, and distract him. This goes for many students in his school. Going green would allow the school to educate the students better on recycling, which in turn, always seems to expand to the home. Hundreds of students going home and having their parents start recycling, using energy efficient light bulbs, unplugging unnecessary items... the possibilities are endless. It doesn't end at school!
The school currently has paper towels in the bathrooms. Changing this alone would not only save plenty of school district funds, but it would greatly impact the amount of trash that the school dumps. Upgrades to the school means more funds for the kids.
When a school goes green, children benefit—as well as the environment! Green schools lead to:
Improved student performance. When children learn in classrooms with natural daylight, improved sound quality and non-toxic building materials such as non-VOC carpets and paints, test scores can improve as much as 20%. Attendance also improves!
More funds for student resources. When green upgrades are made to a school, water and energy costs can be reduced by as much as 40%. These savings can be channeled back into resources that directly benefit students, such as textbooks, computers and other essentials.
Reduced carbon footprint. Greening a school significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.
GREENER SCHOOLS = A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Every child deserves a learning environment that’s safe, comfortable and free of harmful toxins. Unfortunately, many schools across the country lack the funds to carry out much-needed repairs and renovations—subjecting children to outdated facilities with improper ventilation, poor lighting and inefficient energy usage. Global Green USA is working to address this situation and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a healthy, green school.
You can help by nominating a school in your area for a Green School Makeover—read on to learn more, and find out how you can green your school!
You can help by nominating a school in your area for a Green School Makeover—read on to learn more, and find out how you can green your school!
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