What turns a school green?
Schools all over the Philippines are getting more and more involved with caring for the environment.
For example, the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) linked up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources last January 24 in an effort to educate more youth about how to protect the environment.
A welcomed development especially from PACU with its 158 member schools, this move prompted for regular activities raising awareness on environmental protection, as well as advocate the implementation of environmental laws.
So does this mean the schools are now “green”?
Greenguide.com actually made a study on the green schools in the United States and came up with a criteria as well as the names of the schools with the most impact on their students, environment-wise.
Want to know which school got awarded first place? It's Punahou Middle School, a private high school in Honolulu, Hawaii. Being in an island must have made the students feel the urgency of saving the environment, which they did through waterless urinals, photovoltaic arrays, healthy eating, green cleaning products, LEED-certified buildings, school-wide summits on sustainability, and the Hawaiian plant nursery.
Just how was this rated? Well, since healthy minds (less exposure to noise, chemicals, pollution) are always better for healthy schools (natural surroundings, organic food, clean air). Greenguide.com sent invitations to 2,500 schools to participate in its surveys. And the following criteria were used:
- Green Building and Construction depends on whether buildings were built according to green or LEED standards, and took into consideration factors such as site location, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, material selection and waste management.
- Electricity Supply is a big factor since almost 40% of U.S.' carbon dioxide emissions come from electric utilities. Schools using renewable energy or solar, wind or hydroelectric sources of energy were given major brownie points.
- Food amazingly enough play a part as schools offering organic food and relying on local growers for supply mattered.
- Recycling programs in schools, whether it be for aluminum to ink cartridges to electronic equipment to plastic, abound in the schools surveyed.
- Procurement policies wherein institutions commit to purchasing low-toxicity and recycled goods were considered. If the school surveyed had procurement policies, it took into consideration recycled content, life cycle analysis, energy and water use, length of usable life and toxicity.
- Transportation plays a role because some campuses are far apart adding considerable commute times. Carpooling, bicycle lanes and public transport in school policies are a big help to the environment.
- Environmental curriculum and its extent matter to the kind of green education the students got.
- Environmental contaminants check the threats to indoor air quality, as well as the exposure of students to chlorine, ammonia, caustic chemicals, lead in paint, asbestos, mold and arsenic. It's always better to go with green cleaners and conduct routine monitoring of air and water quality.
- School green spaces like flower and vegetable gardens, trails and woodland areas also help students learn - from observing wildlife to experiencing organic produce.
- Lastly, Environmental quality serves as a testament to the school's overall commitment to the environment.
For more resources, check out the following links:
Now that you have the criteria and the resources, the best way to “green” your school is to start now!
Sources:
“Building Green Schools Resource List.” Retrieved April 23, 2008 from http://www.nesea.org/buildings/greenschoolsresources.html
“DLSL-Kalikasan De La Salle Lipa’s Official Environmental Organization.” Retrieved April 23, 2008 from http://greenphils.com/2008/01/31/more-green-schools/
McRandle, P.W. And Smith, Sara Smiley. “The Top 10 Green Schools in the U.S.: 2006.” Retrieved April 23, 2008 from http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/115/toptenschools
(Published 28 April 2008, Smart Schools Program)
