Funding for Green Schools is First Step

Posted on June 5, 2008
Tag(s): Green Building, For Kids, Hazardous Products / Health Issues, Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Global Warming | | Email this

While I applaud the House’s approval of $20 million in funding for building new and renovating old schools to higher, green building standards, I wonder if any of that money will go to providing school systems with cleaner buses. If we’re concerned with indoor air quality and the asthma epidemic so prevalent in the U.S., we might want to play closer attention to the disgusting pollution that school buses emit while on the road. Cleaner air inside and outside of schools is equally important in my mind.

Studies have shown that green schools:

improve the ability of students to learn
promote better health and reduce absenteeism by students and faculty
provide cleaner air and a more comfortable environment
use significantly less energy and water
release fewer global warming emissions
save money in the long run through more efficient mechanical systems and lower maintenance requirements.

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act must still go through the Senate and avoid a possible veto by the White House. Under the new program, building projects would have to meet the requirements set by the Collaborative For High Performance Schools, Energy Star, or the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

Source: Associate Press