The sustainable school movement reflects society-wide concerns with the development of a more environmentally friendly, sustainable way of life. Proponents of green schools claim that they are healthier and more rich learning environments that are more cost-effective. Green schools are said to harness sustainable resources while reducing the use of scarcer resources.
The green school movement is here to stay and is gathering momentum , with support coming from governments, parents, teachers, students and the business community . Some of the improvements to the school environment from green practices are said to be:
- daylight and views,
- high indoor air quality,
- first-class acoustics,
- thermal comfort.
Studies have shown, according to sustainable school advocates that increased exposure to daylight and natural views increases academic performance. Indoor air quality is an issue recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which estimates that 20% of children go to schools with poor indoor air quality. Green schools are said then to reduce sick days. Acoustics are a concern for students and teachers, with good acoustics increasing the ability of teachers to be heard without hurting their voices, while students benefit from higher levels of lesson comprehension. Advocates even claim green schools supply more comfortable indoor temperatures, increasing school occupants’ satisfaction with their instructional environments.
Having healthier, more heedful, more productive students and teachers is a compelling reason on its own for supporting the green school movement. Some studies have even show that retainining teachers is easier in green schools, meeting yet another concern of education today. But where are the touted cost-savings and, more importantly, the environmental benefits from which the green school movement takes it name? Those benefits are measurable and they are:
- The U.S. Department of Energy has found that U.S. schools spend $6 billion on energy each year. Green building practices are estimated to have the potential of lowering this by 25%.
- Water usage at green schools is decreased by 30%.
- What about building costs? Green school supporters claim that the total construction costs for green schools and traditional buildings are the same because environmentally friendly buildings cost less to operate over the long term. Green schools are thus said to free up budgets for other uses, such as hiring more teachers.
As the sustainable school movement develops, so does our concern with taking better care of the environment for the future . Here’s one resource that can help you start to make a difference today: 75 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Stop Global Warming (PDF).
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