The Green Schools Healthy Schools Project

What do you mean, "Green School?"

reen schools, or green buildings generally, is a term given to schools that are designed to be environmentally sensitive, energy efficient, and healthy for their occupants. Any building that is hard to heat or cool, that requires a great deal of lighting, that wastes water, uses no recycled materials, or has an unpleasant "feel" to the people who work and study there is definitely not a green school!

At first, the "green-ness" of this school may not be apparent to you. After all, it feels warm in the winter and cool in the summer just like any other school. And there doesn't seem to be anything odd about the lighting. The doors and windows, walls and floors look pretty routine. So what's the difference?

The difference is that the architect considered environmental sustainability and operating efficiency at every possible opportunity when designing and equipping the new school.

Lights and appliances work very efficiently.
High tech controls adjust or turn off fixtures or appliances depending on their current use.
Non-polluting solar power produces some of the school's electricity.
Some of the flooring materials, carpets, and many furnishings are manufactured out of renewable or recycled materials and can be readily recycled when they have to be replaced.
Fresh air comes into the school mechanically (rooftop vents draw it into the heating ducts) and through the operable windows.
Stale air that is being vented out of the building gives up some of its energy to pre-heat incoming fresh air.
Lots of natural lighting creates a pleasant, healthy indoor environment.
Exterior windows are airtight and designed to keep heat inside in the winter.
No toxic paints, finishes, or polishes were used.

The Green Schools Healthy Schools Project

The Green Schools Project establishes community, student, and school-staff pride in your school's building and grounds. It builds an understanding of the school's green systems, materials, and technologies.

This sense of pride initiates:

An expanded use of these green systems, materials and technologies in the greater community and
Support for programs that encourage the development of green buildings.

The educational activities developed for this program enable teachers and students to take advantage of the school building's systems, materials, and technologies for real-world, hands-on place-based learning. This type of authentic inquiry and application is not only pedagogically sound, it also helps students envision green possibilities as adult citizens of the future.

NESEA will provide training and assistance for teachers and administrators to develop an understanding of the school's green systems, materials, and technologies and equip teachers to lead students through hands-on investigations. Students will learn how to measure, assess, and understand environmental, social, and economic aspects of the school's systems, materials, and technologies. This experience will enable students to explain the school's systems, materials, and technologies through student-led guided tours of the school building to a general audience including their parents, school administration, town officials, and other community members.

Working with NESEA staff, teachers and students will create a "Student Guide to the School Building and Grounds" guide-booklet , imparting green innovations the schools have incorporated. Student graphs, charts, and pictures as well as photos will be incorporated into the guide.

Contact NESEA's K-12 Education Department for more information.

413-774-6051 x21, nesea@nesea.org

Click here for additional resources on developing school-wide sustainability.