Illinois Greening SchoolsIllinois Greening Schoolswww.greeningschools.orgwww.greeningschools.org

Illinois WMRC Illinois EPA Illinois DNR

Greening Schools’ MissionGreening Schools’ Mission

Greening Schools project is a state governmental effort designed to assist schools with:

Improving physical environmental conditions Providing standards-based tools to introduce

concepts of waste reduction and pollution prevention.

Greening Schools ServicesGreening Schools Services

Technical assistance On-site review of school facilities Training workshops Listserv and website Extensive resources Online help desk to answer questions

Greening School Greening School Benefits IncludeBenefits Include

Lower operating costs Increased safety and environmental health

at school for students and staff Professional development credits and

administrator credits Improved learning conditions Set an example of environmental

responsibility and sustainable behavior

Constraints include:Constraints include:

Limited funding Rising energy and maintenance costs Lack of resources and technical

assistance Lack of time to research resources

What is a Green School?What is a Green School?

High Performance Schools: Improve student academic performance Promotes student and staff health Supports healthy lifestyle choices Cost effective (lower operating expenses) Reduces building’s environmental footprint

Design Elements of a Healthy Design Elements of a Healthy High Performance SchoolHigh Performance School

Assess needs and establish a planning teamPlan your buildingDesign to reduce operating costsConsider Health, Safety and Comfort

(students AND staff)Protect environment

When was the last time you sat in When was the last time you sat in a classroom, in an older buildinga classroom, in an older building

Could you open windows? (allergies)

Dressed for winter, room temperature was 86 degrees

Disagreeable odors

How can this school be a high performance school?

Plan your building to includePlan your building to include::

Life cycle cost analysis Environmentally responsive site planning Energy analysis tools Commissioning Energy efficient building shell Thermal, acoustic, air quality comforts

Energy UseEnergy Use

For most school districts, energy use and other utilities are the second biggest operating expense.

School energy costs are estimated at $110 per student per year

Too many new schools don’t consider energy use.

HVAC40%

Lighting40%

Misc20%

Typical Building Electrical CostsTypical Building Electrical Costs

Traditional DaylightingTraditional Daylighting

Greening Schools also provides:Greening Schools also provides:

Fact sheets Access to grants and funding

opportunities Checklists Standards-based lesson plans Curricula Activities

All related to waste reduction, pollution prevention and energy efficiency.

OutreachOutreach

Meet with school administrators and district superintendents

Provides school or district presentations for classes or conferences

On-site workshops and On-site workshops and reviewsreviews

Safe Chemicals in Education for Teachers Workshop with Illinois EPA & Illinois WMRC

Healthy Art & Theater Teacher Workshops Administrator Academy Workshop (Currently

offering IPM & Chemical Management) Keeping Schools Healthy and Safe for Custodians Energy audits and assessments Greening Lesson Plans

Online Technical AssistanceOnline Technical Assistance

www.greeningschools.org/services/tech_assist.cfm Do you have environmental issues at your school? Do you have concerns about operating costs,

energy efficiency, conservation or other pollution prevention efforts?

Do you want to make school more "environmentally friendly?"

Advice is FREE! Online form obtains technical assistance.

WMRC’s LibraryWMRC’s Library

Contributes to the BiblioresourcesIs a Clearinghouse for Pollution Prevention

and Waste Management ResourcesCan be reached at 217-333-8957 or

library@wmrc.uiuc.edu

Greening Schools contactsGreening Schools contacts

Carol Knepp, 217-333-8940, cknepp@wmrc.uiuc.edu

Becky Lockart, 217 244 5637, Becky.Lockart@epa.state.il.us

www.greeningschools.org