What is a green school? It’s a concept that connects environmental concerns and sustainability. The green schools combine direct actions towards a cleaner and healthier environment with the educational purpose of raising awareness and providing valuable skills for kids of the future.
Green schools project turns the local community in more environment sensible surroundings, and at the same time, it changes the school itself. Because of the healthy, safe, and productive environment in the school, students will benefit from better health and studying results.
That is why we gathered the best opportunities green schools could offer to the students and the communities.
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Benefits of green schools
source:greenschoolsgreenfuture.org
What does going green means in terms of a school? This concept promotes several vital principles. Green schools construction wants to be sustainable with the smallest possible carbon footprint. Other ideas focus on natural daylight and views to the outside, healthier indoor air quality, better acoustics, thermal comfort and water, and energy efficiency.
Natural light has a positive impact on academic achievements, while indoor air quality provides better health conditions. Toxic chemicals in conventional cleaning detergents, paint in flooring and furniture and other established processes have an awful impact on students health. Students in the US miss around 14 million school days per year for asthma-like symptoms.
Classroom acoustics improvement preserves both teacher’s health, and it improves student-teacher communication and learning process.
Using green building material, clever use of sun and light, renewable energy resources like solar panels can lead to lowering the carbon footprint but also benefits the quality of space, and for those reluctant to the green movement, it can cut costs.
Green schools are not just moral guide to save the planet; they have great benefits that go beyond the environment.
source:greenschoolsgreenfuture.org
Save money
Schools in the US spend more than $7.5 billion on energy annually, which is more than they spend on textbooks and IT equipment combined. The costs of running the green school are $100,000 lower per year, and although the initial cost of the building is $3 more per square foot, the benefits clearly outweigh the downside.
Students are more into school
Better indoor air quality aside, having an environmental curriculum with the school garden and hands-on experimental experiences result in more engaged students. The outcome better results in other studies like math, science, art, and others. Energy-efficient buildings can teach students about the benefits of smart energy and other environmental issues.
source:theiranproject.com
Health in focus
Having better indoor air quality and acoustics have direct impact to student and teachers health. The abundance of daily natural light and school gardens improve both physical and mental stamina for millions of students and teachers. Healthier environment reaps benefits in better student performance.
Creating leaders for a greener world
Seeing first hand, the impact of sustainable materials, energy, and water efficient system, with live experiences with environmental actions lays the ground for future green leaders in the community. Green schools give kids the confidence to make a difference and will provide young one’s health values for life.
How to help the green school movement? A great way is to promote the values and benefits of this system. If you are a parent, you could promote this issue in the community using social networks, council, or parent meetings.
source:theiranproject.com
Another way is to write engaging content in local media or locally known blog. If you want to publish but need help with content writing, you can check out AU Eubirdie, or hire freelancers on Upwrok or Fiverr. Students, on the other hand, can spread the words on social networks. After all, they understand the social dynamics and are better at it than parents.
Conclusion
Besides higher initial expenses, building local green school have only positive impacts on the kids, teachers, and the community. The opportunities that green school offer are cost saving on energy bills with more money available for core school materials, positive environmental impact with teaching the kids how to act responsibly with sustainability and environment in mind.
Incorporating experimental classes, green projects, and gardens in the curriculum have a positive impact on student engagement, and some examples have shown that students improved in other subjects as well. The last, but definitely not the least, green schools with much higher air and acoustics quality enhance the health of children and teachers reducing missing school day and sick leaves.
