sustainable school operations deborah moore green schools initiative december 2008
TRANSCRIPT
Sustainable School Operations
Deborah Moore
Green Schools Initiative
December 2008
The Context
The Hope
Green Schools Report Card:Pollution & Environmental Quality
50% of schools in U.S. have problems linked to poor indoor air quality; asthma is the leading cause of school absences from a chronic illness
• Education buildings use 13% of total energy used in US
• Typical school emits nearly 2,000 tons/yr of carbon from transportation, energy & water use
Green Schools Report Card:
Energy & Climate
Green Schools Report Card: Garbage
• Waste from schools is ~ 4% of municipal waste
• Food waste and paper comprise majority of garbage;
• Few schools practice the 4R’s or buy recycled
Children are most susceptible
• Developing body & lungs• Greater exposures from higher
metabolism, breathing rates• Bodies cannot detoxify as
adults• More active, hand-to-mouth• Exposures affect development,
learning, and lifetime health
Schools’ environmental education message to kids:
“Do as I say, not as I do”
Rotor near pollution
Why Do We Need Green and Healthy Schools?
• Save money! Especially energy, hazardous waste handling, absenteeism, workman’s compensation – savings can be used to fund other programs
• Improve children’s health, especially asthma
• Increase academic achievement and student performance
• Benefit larger community and global health and environment
• Empowering kids to make a difference
• Teaching kids environmental and health values that will stay with them for life
How to Create Green Schools1. Green School
Committee
2. Environmental Vision Statement
3. Environmental Assessment
4. Action Plan
5. Curriculum
6. Monitoring & Evaluation
7. Informing, Involving & Celebrating!
Adapted from: Eco-Schools International
Step 3: Garbage Audit
Results of Garbage Audit
Recyclables currently
Garbage Recycling thrown out
TABLE 3: Estimates of Total Waste Generated Pounds Tons Pounds Tons Pounds Tons
Estimate of 1 day of waste at Tapscott 86 48 8
Estimate of weight of 1 week of waste (5 days) 430 241 40
Estimate of 1 month of waste (20 days) 1,720 966 160
Estimate of 1 school-year of waste (180 days) 15,484 7.74 8,690 4.35 1,440 0.72
Estimate of 1 school-year of waste on both campuses 30,967 15.48 17,381 8.69 2,880 1.44
(Note: these estimates assume that all days would be like the day we audited)
Three years later, the school has reduced its daily garbage to about 2 pounds
Students analyze and communicate results
to the whole school
The Power of Information
Paper Audit• Estimate school paper use by:
– Weighing paper recycled– Interviewing office staff about paper
purchased
• Analyze costs and benefits of different strategies for reducing paper waste, increasing recycling, and buying recycled paper
• Implement solutions• Monitor ongoing paper use and estimate
costs and benefits of savings
Results of Paper Cost-Benefit Analysis
Current – 0% recycled paper
30% recycled paper
100% recycled paper
Cartons per year 124 124 124
Price per carton $34.99 $35.99 $45.99
Price per year + tax
$4,339 $4,463 $5,703
Difference $124 $1,240
Trees used
Energy used
GHG emitted
74
119 mil BTUs
17.6K lbs CO2 eq
52
103 mil BTUs
15.6K lbs CO2 eq
0
67 mil BTUs
11.1K lbs CO2 eq
Sources: prices from Staples; resource uses from www.papercalculator.org by Environmental Defense.
Using results to test ideas, influence decisions
Create Action PlanGreening Buildings & Operations• New Buildings: CHPS
• Green Cleaning
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Energy & Water Conservation, Renewable Energy, Transport
• Waste reduction
• Food Service
• Green Schoolyards
Those who say it can’t be done
Should not interrupt those already doing it
-- Chinese proverb
You have to be the change
You want to see in the world
-- Ghandi
