What Does It Mean to “Go Green”?

It’s not enough to prepare our children for the future…

We must prepare the future for our children.

I learned to be “green” in the Navy

If you can teach a sailor to recycle, surely you can teach a child

…and a parent.

Who Should Be Involved in Environmental Education?

Students of All Ages

Educators Parents Green Businesses

It’s an “All Hands” Operation

Maybe Curriculum Isn’t the Only Way…

A

“Go Green” Kid

Good Role

Models

Daily Practice Measur

e Success

The Go Green Initiative operates

in 1,293 cities in all 50 U.S. states and

39 countries worldwide

What Makes the GGI so Popular?

R ecognize…• Achievements of GGI Schools, Organizations,

Sponsors & Partners

O ffer…• Free Training Sessions for All Ages on ‘Going Green’

I nspire…• Teamwork Among All GGI Participants & Affiliates

…and it’s FREE to all schools!!!

That’s nice, but…So What???

Is the environment better off because of the Go Green Initiative?

Since 2005, GGI schools have kept over 10 million lbs. of recyclables out of landfills, which conserved the following:

27 millio

n gallons of

water

3,836 metric tons of greenhouse gas

emissions

67 billion BTU’s of energy

14,104

cubic yards

of landfil

l space 34,500 barrels of

oil

What is the

Function of American

Public Schools?

How Will “Going Green” Benefit My School District?

· Save money on utility bills by saving energy and water

· Save money on waste hauling bills by pulling out recyclable material

· Save money on purchasing by encouraging a culture of conservation and no waste

· Generate revenue by profit sharing with recycling brokers

How Will “Going Green” Benefit My Students?

· They will learn how to properly manage natural resources from their adult role models

· They will learn a core competency for the 21st century – how individual actions affect the environment for everyone

· They will benefit from all the natural resources saved, and the reduction of pollutants in the air around their community

How will “Going Green” Benefit the Community?

· More people = fewer natural resources

· Schools are a significant source of waste generation in most communities

· Schools can have a long-term impact

· Schools act as a catalyst for the rest of the community

Go Green in the Short Term· Communicate “Why” to All

Stakeholders· Recycle

· Set up a profit sharing agreement w/ hauler or broker

· Ensure student participation through student benefit, i.e. let the profit from recycling go to student activities

· Measure and publicize environmental impact

· Reduce energy usage

Go Green in the Long Term

· Create a culture of conservation

· Reduce the amount of consumption and waste

· Create a healthy environment on campus· Protect indoor &

outdoor air quality on campus

· Consider locally grown food for cafeteria

· Compost food scraps· Utilize renewable energy

How am I supposed to pay for this?

•Profit sharing from recycling

•Cost avoidance from lower utility & waste hauling bills

•Grants, Sponsors, and Eco-friendly fundraisers

•***The Go Green Initiative is free to schools***

· Recycling· Start with your waste hauler - Appendix A of Planning Guide· List of local recycling brokers – Google “recycling brokers for (fill in the name of

your area)”· Energy efficiency and conservation

· Local utility· Solar financing

· Curriculum/General Education· EPA & DOE – your tax $$ at work· U.S. EPA’s portal for students and educators:

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/students.htm; the U.S. Dept of Energy site for teachers: http://www.energy.gov/foreducators.htm; thee The U.S. Dept of Energy site for students: http://www.energy.gov/forstudentsandkids.htm; and the National Environmental Education Foundation site: http://www.neefusa.org/programs/index.htm

· Partner organizations· PTA· Local NRC affiliates

Resources to Help You