Building Green

One way in which schools are taking part in the green movement, is they are actually building new schools or reconstructing old ones to become "green schools." A green school is a school that uses less energy, resources, and money to create a healthier learning environment. At Rosa Parks elementary school, in Portland, Oregon, the school created  effective ways to save energy and money. To use less electricity, the school put in many skylights, to increase the amount of natural sunlight.Some schools also use solar panels to cut down on the use of electricity.The school also put extra insulation to cut down on heating costs and the school is 2.4 acres away from two bus lines, which can cut down the use of buses and children can walk to school.At Middlebury College in Vermont, the school built a biomass gasification plant. This plant is meant to limit the carbon dioxide at the school, and it has limited carbon dioxide by 40%! the plant also limited the use of fuel oil by 50%!
What many schools have also been doing is teaching their students how to go green and many schools have even created organic farms to be healthier and to teach the children about organic farming. At Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, the school created an organic farm on campus and are teaching their students about organic farming. The school also, uses vehicles that are electrically powered.
It is incredible what these schools are doing. Green schools use 30%-50% less energy and they also have had a great effect on children's health. Studies show that they have reduced asthma in their schools by 38.5%.  By going green, a school can save up to $100,000 a year! The money that is saved can go to other resources, such as more computers, or more teachers. If more schools were doing what these schools are doing, the health of the students with greatly benefit and it would save a great amount of money that can be used for other resources.


http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org
http://www.associatesdegree.com/2010/02/07/50-big-ways-that-schools-are-going-green/