Small actions = big changes
By Marygrace Taylor
The average LEED-certified green school uses a whopping 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than conventionally built schools, which is great. But what about older, existing schools whose districts simply don’t have the money to build new facilities or even retrofit current ones? "There are a million ways to start small," says Rachel Gutter, director of the U.S. Green Building Council Center for Green Schools. "The Department of Energy estimates most buildings can reduce energy use by up to 25 percent just by changing the way occupants interact with the buildings. These savings in utility costs can then be reinvested for bigger green changes," she says. Five easy-to-implement ideas to help your child’s school use fewer resources (and maybe save some money in the process):
- Save paper - Teachers can use both sides when making copies of worksheets or fliers, and kids should make sure every page in their notebook is written on before getting a new one. Plus, instead of always reaching for a new sheet of construction paper, teachers can encourage kids to finish up the scraps from old sheets first.
- Adjust the thermostat - Keeping the temperature a few degrees cooler in the winter and a few degrees warmer in the spring can result in significant savings on gas or electric bills—and doesn’t require any new equipment.
- Use power strips - Even when turned off, electronic equipment that’s still plugged in uses a small amount of energy (and when several items are left plugged in in every school classroom, that small amount isn’t so small anymore). Using a power strip allows teachers and students to unplug everything from the source at once, nixing energy waste.
- Add plants - They’re an inexpensive way to improve indoor air quality and reduce carbon emissions, since plants suck up excess CO2 in the atmosphere (some, like spider plants and aloe vera, also help clean air of toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde). Plus, they instantly brighten up a classroom without the need for paper posters or other decorations.
- Save water Faculty members can place signs near bathroom and classroom sinks reminding students to conserve water while washing their hands: All they have to do is turn off faucets while sudsing up. Another easy water saver: Use rainwater collected by buckets to water plants.
