Green Options

Have you ever done the math on commuting to work? Telecommuting saves money, it’s a fact. Yet most folks are fearful of stepping out of the in-person environment. Luckily the barriers have been broken by Adobe as their new Acrobat Connect Pro software has video, audio, and interactivity that create an almost in-person experience for meeting attendees.

In addition, Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro online meeting software is now offering a free trial and every time someone signs up they donate twenty-five dollars to help a school go green. In fact, Adobe has partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and the mayors of Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco to help schools go green in their communities. Each city will receive up to $100,000 to create classrooms that foster learning alongside smart environmental practices.

photo credit: Andrew 94

Editor’s note: The following post was originally published on Green and Clean Mom. “Green & Clean Mom can inspire you to try a little harder, be a catalyst for change and to offer you some new tips and news on how to be the green, sexy and sassy mom…I know you are!”

Tomorrow my son turns five, and I’m feeling emotional. This week is a big roller coaster of emotions for me. My son had kindergarten round up, so I had to come to terms that he’s no longer a baby, toddler or even preschooler but heading into the school age realm where the world is much bigger and less sheltered. I’ll explain some of my observations during round up and how being a “green” mom I couldn’t not notice a few things that left lumps in my throat. But besides the birthday and kindergarten round up I head to my State capitol tomorrow with my son to advocate for early childhood services and programs. I’m emotional over this because it’s so important and dear to my heart and the idea of seeing thousands of parents, educators and children all rallying for our young children makes me feel so proud. I am excited for my son on his 5th birthday to be a part of such an important day and to see what his mom does and learn a small piece about government at such a young age. Oh and then there was my skin cancer examination went well and I have nothing to be worried about other than having melasma on my face - which has brought me to tears because most of the treatment options explored are far from “natural”.

“Everyone is jumping on the green bandwagon,” said Victor Alonso, the design officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

With three kids in three different schools, I am buried in paper; the running joke in our household is that I have more homework than my kids do.  Easily three-quarters of what comes home goes straight into the recycling bin.  Multiply that by over 5000 children in our school district and the mind boggles. 

Isn’t there a better way to get information to parents?

One Pennsylvania school thinks so.  Liberty elementary school in Harrisburg now sends school papers electronically through a free website on Shutterfly.  Nearly 90% of the parents at that school opted for the online version- the remainder still preferring paper or lacking home internet access.

The endless parade of papers sent home, the individually wrapped snacks, the juice boxes at lunch, the idling of school busses, and, lest we forget, the possibility of toxic air: schools have a lot of areas where they could stand to go green. 

If, like me, you are a parent looking for ways to take action and help your child’s school become more environmentally friendly, consider suggesting a lesson in waste reduction through involvement with National Green Week:

“During this week schools can participate in the nationwide waste reduction program (optional). They will simply encourage students to bring their snacks and drinks in reusable containers for the week and weigh their total classroom snack trash the week prior to and during National Green Week….

The objective of National Green Week is to empower children to become environmental stewards to protect our planets valuable resources. The program will also encourage families to consider healthy snack options and save money by buying in bulk and recycling. “

More and more schools are making an effort to go more green. In old buildings, with dwindling budgets, busy teachers and limited resources, it is not easy. Is your school making a strong effort to be environmentally responsible? Does your school compost, have a strong recycling program, conserve energy, encourage reuse and carpooling?

At www.AmericasGreenestSchool.com, students can nominate their school in a 500 word essay describing how their school is green. Submissions should, “describe how the school shows its commitment to going green, how it teaches its students the value of green living, how it shows its dedication to green transportation or how it embodies the spirit of a greener planet.”

And the best part is the awards if your school wins (well, of course there is educational value in the process!), check out the environmental goodies your school will receive:

Good news for Chicago middle school and high school teachers who want to teach their students about the environment and earn a bit of extra cash: the city has extended its deadline for applications to its 2008-2009 Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Student Club.

Teachers now have until Friday, Sept. 19, to apply for the C3 Student Club program.

As The US House of Representatives votes on No Child Left Inside this week, this is your last chance to let your legislator know you want MORE funding for training teachers in outdoor education, MORE funding to expand environmental education programs and MORE programs to ensure that US graduates are environmentally

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In my experience, one of the hardest places to green our family’s life is our children’s school.  As a parent and a teacher at this school, I am constantly met with resistance when I suggest ways we can green our children’s education.  The excuses from lack of money to health regulations never cease, but I never stop trying.  Ironically, these excuses are actually reasons why schools should become more eco-friendly.  Green schools reduce sick days for staff and students, as well as cost 2% less to run, according to the Organic Consumer’s Association.  Here are five ideas to help you change your child’s school:

1. Start a the top with the school board: All policies for school districts are set by the board of trustees.  The administration takes their directives from the school board. If you can get the school board’s support, your schools will go green.  Compile a packet of information on the benefits of green schools and submit it to the board. You may look to other schools or states as models, such as New York requiring the use green cleaners, and New Jersey requiring all new schools be built according to LEED standards.   OCA also has materials available you could use, and Green Schools has a sample school board resolution.  Have parents write letters supporting these changes (letters are more effective than petitions).  Request to have an agenda item listed, then organize a presentation with parents asking the board to adopt a green schools policy or resolution.
2. Work your way down the school’s hierarchy: If you can’t get support from the school board, go to the site’s principal.  If you can’t get the principal’s support, go to your child’s teacher, etc.  Don’t forget the teachers’ union, as they may include in their contract negotiations a reduction in chemical exposure, etc. 

While the greening efforts of U.S. colleges and universities seem to capture the most media attention, elementary schools across the country are no slouches when it comes to eco-action.

Look at what’s happening at some of these schools:

Although school may be the farthest thing from your children’s mind this summer, your representatives in Congress are thinking about it.  The truth is that many US schools are in dire need of repair, and most of them are very energy inefficient. My children’s school still has asbestos tiles in some rooms, the roof is poorly insulated, and the heaters/AC are power suckers.  If the H.R. 3021: 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passes, this may change.

The Green Schools Act passed the House of Representatives last month by a vote of 250 to 164 and is now in the Senate. If passed into law, this bill would provide funding to make school facilities safe, healthy, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and technologically up-to-date. U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), a member of the Education and Labor Committee explained:

The condition of our nation’s school facilities can have an immense impact on the ability of our children to learn and the quality of education they receive.  By improving our schools and making upgrades using green technology, this legislation will create new jobs and help improve student health, learning ability, and productivity.