Preview

Green School Initiatives

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3913 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Green School Initiatives
Introduction – Kate
The idea of “Green Initiatives” in schools at any age level is a positive step towards installing sustainability in the minds of future generations. To reduce the amount of energy needed, recycle rain water, lessen landfill space and cut the barrels of oil used by Americans daily; can insure that our natural resource will be intact for many years to come. However, obstacles to Green Initiatives are costs, program management and proper data collection. Is it possible to initiate Green Methods in schools and really save cash as a result? It is possible. Let us examine which eco-friendly ideas work for institutions and which do not.

Relevant Facts – Mandy, Miranda, Kate, Tomika & Alicia
Why should schools “go green?” When a school “goes green,” that school is making the choice and the commitment to make their school more environmentally friendly. This includes doing things “to reduce carbon footprint, or the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced” (Whelan, 2007). More and more, taking care of the environment is becoming an issue among people. They all want to know what they can do to make their environment safer and cleaner. Schools are becoming no exception to this endeavor. It does not take much for a school to make a difference. It can be something as simple as recycling plastic water bottles or something more complex such as installing energy-efficient solar panels in the roofing.
Today’s schools have become more environmentally aware and many would like to incorporate green learning and living into their school systems.
The definition of a green school is “a school building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources, and money” (www.greenschool-buildings.org). A school can be green in many ways; primarily this paper focuses on how a school can best go green. Much of what is discussed is school construction and renovation; however we also highlight



References: Benefits of Wind Power. (2010). Retrieved November 20, 2010, from http://www.northernpower.com/wind-power-basics/benefits-of-wind-power.php. Green school buildings. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2010, from U.S. green building council website: http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/gs101.aspx Green school design: cost-effective, healthy, and better, for eduction. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2010, from Center for Eco literacy website: http://www.ecoliteracy.org/essays/green- Green economy. (2010). Economy Watch, Retrieved from http://www.economywatch.com/market/market-types/green-economy.html Kauffman, Rachel Kennedy, Mike. (2010, February 10). Overcoming Obstacles to Going Green. Retrieved November 19, 2010, from http://asumag.com/green/overcoming-sustainability-obstacles-201002/. King, Ledyard. (2008, July 31). Costs, Concerns Push Schools To Use Eco-Friendly Elements. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-31-green-schools_N.htm. Lafee, Scott. (2008). Going Green: Environmentally Friendly Schools Pay Off. Retrieved November 23, 2010, from http://www.csba.org/NewsAndMedia/Publications/CASchoolsMagazine/2008/Spring/InThisIssue/GreenSchools.aspx?p=1. Pedersen, Lisa. (2010, February 22). “Found” Art Materials. Retrieved November 28, 2010, from http://www.familynavigation.com/found-art-materials. Raderstrong, Jeff. (July 21, 2008). The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 5, 2010 from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm/localnews/2008063326_solarpanels21m0.html Recycling Plastic Milk Bottles: Benefits and Getting Started Recycling Plastic Milk Bottles At School Frequently Asked Questions. (2008). Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://www.NutritionExplorations.org. Solar Energy Finally In The School Yards. (2010, October 25). Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://www.renewablepowernews.com/archives/1914. Solar Panel Cost. Retrieved December 5, 2010 from http://www.solarpanelsedge.com/ar/solar-panels-cost.php The New Era in Solar Energy What Are The Benefits of Solar Power? (2010, February 9). Retrieved November 21, 2010, from http://www.alternativeenergyhq.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-solar-power.php. Whelan, Debra Lau. (2007, September 1). Going Green: Eco-Friendly Schools. Retrieved November 20, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA647263.html. Go green initiative. (n.d.) Retrieved November 17, 2010 from http://www.gogreeninitiative.org

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Sci/207 Week 3 Lab Report

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Everything we do in life can affect how the environment around us, and although it is not a quick turnaround of global warming it will affect the younger generations. “Going green” has become a big deal in stores to recycle and carpooling, but spreading the word and having people become more aware do to little changes in their daily habit can make a big difference.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: Mckibben, Bill. “The Environmental Issue from Hell.” The Mcgraw-Hill Reader. Ed. Gilbert Muller. 11th ed. Boston: Learning Solutions. 2011. 746-49. Print.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I created a survey for parents of adolescents to determine how important they think it is for their teens to be educated on environmental issues. This paper will explain the purpose of the survey and discuss the preliminary design issues that I experienced while creating the survey. Then, the paper will describe how this survey should be administered, scored and interpreted.…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Final Paper Com44

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Our main goals are to first begin by enlightening the public of the amount of waste that is produced in different intervals of time through out our campus and college community. Next, we would like to campaign an effort toward making cognitive decisions about how to help not only reduce the amount of waste we produce so frequently, and help to encourage others into making more environmental waste decisions, such as recycling wasteful materials and reusing materials that are eligible for reuse. Also in our effort to encourage recycling, we would like to focus a large portion of our efforts into the recycling, reuse and reduction of plastic water bottles. Lastly, to follow up these efforts, we would like to educate and demonstrate some useful alternatives to plastic bottles, such as reusable water containers. There are many containers such as Nalgene bottles, and other aluminum canteens that are designed to be used over and over again and cost much less than purchasing bottled water. There are even containers with built in water filters to ensure that every time you use it, you are getting crisp, clean water.…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The school is very environmentally friendly and they strive to do everything possible to ensure that they are making the most of all resources. This comes in the form of recycling, water saving and energy efficiency.…

    • 2700 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    report pla

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are many challenges within the institution that impair the smooth run of the university. Green program has a wide scope of how these problems can be handled. Apart from the waste papers within the institution, other resources like water, electricity and finances are poorly managed. Green program has means of educating the employees on how to be conservative to such resources. This report will analyze the steps involved in effective use of electricity and cheap means of getting energy. Additionally, it will show efficient use of water to grow vegetations and better ways of keeping the environment clean. Employees need to work in a free and fair environment without being overburdened or being intimidated. Going green program gives better understanding to employees on how to relate with their seniors. The report will show various approaches towards creating harmonious environment between the employees and the employer.…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Sci207: Week 3 - Outline

    • 2359 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.…

    • 2359 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Grade 1-2-4

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Students will be able to tell you on fact from the book, “what does it mean to be green?”…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prince Hall

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages

    All of us are capable of making a few small changes at work or in school that can lead to big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, increase the nation's energy independence, and save money on energy bills. Reduce the environmental impact of your office or school by raising awareness and taking simple steps to reduce energy use.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Live Green Toronto™ hopes that by introducing this contest schools in other districts will participate in similar events. Remember, Everything You Do Makes a…

    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Argumentative Synthesis

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Mr. Franco’s chapter “205 ways to save the Earth” explains several ways to save the planet; the author of the chapter Thomas L. Friedman speaks in his article about the word “Green” and how that term is used, he continued in the article to say that people need to find ways to improve the environment and recommended that it is in the best interest of the world to preserve the world he goes into ways for example like citizens of the world should being recycling and to help beautify the planet. Mr. Franco’s chapter concludes that the countries of the world have to learn better ways to improve the environment for everyone.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Americans are very aware of the importance of “going green” as it reduces pollution and protects the earth from global warming. Going green generally includes recycling, buying environmentally-friendly products, energy efficient electronics, and living off the land. However, the reality is there are many obstacles to going green; the primary of which is cost effectiveness (Outka, 2012). The United States is currently in an economic crisis, and most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay their bills. Therefore, when faced with having to purchase an expensive item such as an appliance or automobile it is difficult to look beyond the price tag at the going green investment. While most citizens believe they are making a difference by recycling, the truth is a large percentage of our curbside recycling is either burned or sent to landfills because it has been contaminated due to ineffective recycling procedures, or it ends up traveling long distances, which increases the cost and air pollution (Kaiser, 2010). All of these facts prove that going green is not cost effective because the products are expensive and it take time (sometimes years) to see a savings or value, curb side recycling is wasteful, and recycling cost a substantial amount more than trash disposal.…

    • 1366 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Community Garden

    • 1292 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Ever since I was in high I was involved in recycling. In my High School there was a environmentally friendly club and I attended every week. There were recycling bins in every class room and even in the cafeteria. As a group we helped bring awareness to our fellow students teaching them its really simple to reuse, reduce, and recycle. We recycled about 7 tons of paper a week and each ton you recycle equals out to seventeen trees. I have just been so interested and in tune with mother nature that we have grown to be come one. At Asnuntuck I don’t feel or see a lot of the green lifestyle going on. This is my doubts about the school are starting from. I have been thinking about how I could liven the place around here. I notice a lot of students just passing by each other in the halls with no recognition towards each other. I’m looking for a way to help bring my fellow people together for a good cause and coming together to help out the environment is something wonderful.…

    • 1292 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    solar energy paper

    • 1239 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Red. (January 7, 2012). Benefits of solar energy. Renewable Energy Development. Retrieved July 15, 2013 from http://renewableenergydev.com/benefits-of-solar-energy/.…

    • 1239 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Best Essays