Going Green at School

How you can take simple actions to help your school and the environment

Provided by HelpSaveEarth.org © 2009

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Why should you help?

Reduce Energy, Waterand Landfill costs

Increases moneyavailable for other needs

Allows school to investin supplies, rooms,new classes, etc

Provides more jobs, better education

to students

Who Wins?You

SchoolCommunity

Environment

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Recycle

• Most trash can be recycled now, so it doesn’t have to end up in the landfill

• Provide recycling containers for the following items:– Paper, Magazines, Junk Mail– Glass– Plastic bottles and bags– Styrofoam– Textbooks, notebooks– Cardboard– Aluminum cans– Ink toner cartridges– Cell phones– Batteries– And more…

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Paper

• Set default on printers– Double-sided (less paper)– Black and white (color more expensive)

• “Think before you print”– Ask yourself if you really need the document in hard

copy format (training material, brochures, procedures, reports, etc)

– Place this note at the bottom of your emails for others to consider

– GreenPrint software, forces print previews so wasted printing does not occur!

– Don’t print this training material!

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Paper

• Get rid of fax machine– Online services convert fax to email attachment– Saves electricity

• Buy recycled paper– Should have at least 30% recycled content

• Recycle paper when done– Leave paper recycling bin next to printer and copier

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Cafeteria and Eating

• Eat in the cafeteria– Don’t grab food “to-go” and bring back to eat

• reduce packaging waste, healthier for you

• Provide filtered water for teachers and students– Cuts down on bottled water purchases

• Bring your own lunch? Use reusable bags or lunch boxes– Avoid throwing away paper or plastic bags each day

• Purchase Energy Star® appliances (fridge, stove, etc)

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Cafeteria and Eating

• Bring your own reusable items from home– Mugs, glasses and containers for drinks, to replace

disposable cups or milk cartons– Cloth napkin to reduce paper towels and napkins– Silverware and dishes to replace Styrofoam plates and

cups and plastic silverware (simply clean and dry after each use)

• Or replace all these items with biodegradable options

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Cafeteria and Eating

• Grow your own food in a school garden• Buy from local growers

– Reduced transportation, supports community

• Buy organic– Healthier for you, chemical-free

• Start a compost pile– Stop sending food waste to the landfill

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Bathroom

• Electric hand dryers or cloth towel rack– Replaces paper towels– Otherwise, have paper recycle bin near exit

• Low flow/waterless toilets• Motion detector on faucets

– Prevents water from being left on

• Report water leaks right away!

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Computers

• Enable screen savers or sleep mode on monitors– Increases security, and saves electricity

• Shut down equipment when not in use– Computers, printers, fax machines, copiers– Measure actual electricity usage of equipment to

determine which use the most

• Choose laptops over desktops– Use less electricity, less packaging and raw materials

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Office Supplies

• Buy recycled school supplies– Books, binders, desks, chairs, pens, file cabinets, etc

• Buy rewriteable CDs and DVDs (reuse)• Create organized central area for supplies

– Clean out desks regularly to put back into storage, take only what you need to reduce purchases

– Ask around before you buy new

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Classrooms

• Install CFL and LED bulbs• Unplug cell phone chargers when finished

– Many devices still drain electricity when plugged in

• Keep thermostats 2-3 degrees higher in summer, lower in winter– Look for unoccupied spaces and close off vents

• Install motion detector light switches– Great for classrooms, hallways, offices

• Use task-specific lighting as needed– Use lamps instead of overhead lights for entire area

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Students

• Create a green task force– Walk around and look for opportunities– Provide recommendations, resources and education

to teachers and administration

• Provide student suggestion box– Helps build engagement, generates great ideas

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Community

• Support environmental organizations, initiatives and projects– Make your school a leader in the community

• Start an environmental group!– Student lead, with a teacher sponsor

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Larger Projects

• Invest in renewable sources of energy– Wind, solar, geothermal (based on your region)– Reduces costs, risks, and seasonal fluctuations

• Install a green roof– Cuts heating and cooling bill, looks great

• Make your school buildings LEED© certified– LEED = Requirements for “healthy” efficient buildings

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Getting to school

• Walk or Bike!• Take public transportation

– Bus, train, shuttle, subway, etc

• Carpool with other classmates or teachers• Teachers and Parents: Buy a more fuel-efficient

vehicle– More options today with electric, hybrid, or other

renewable fuel sources

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Clothing

• Wear hand-me-downs, or shop at second-hand store

• Make your own clothes, or modify your old clothes (jeans to shorts, shirt to purse, etc)

• Wear clothes more than once before putting in washing machine (saves water)

• Buy clothing made from organic cottons or recycled materials

• Donate clothes to charity, give to friends, just don’t throw away!

• Swap clothes with your friends

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Start Simple!

• Try one new thing today!• Take it at your own pace, don’t have to drastically

change your lifestyle or routine• Every little effort helps, it all adds up to a big

impact• Take these tips home with you

– Can greatly reduce your bills

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Final Thoughts

• What other green ideas can you think of?• What actions should your school pursue?• What actions are YOU going to try to implement?

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End

• Thanks for your time!

Help Save Earth

http://www.HelpSaveEarth.org