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Green Schools
Is Your School Good for the Environment?

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eing green wasn’t easy for Kermit the Frog—but it is for a growing number of schools around the country. A “green” school is an environmentally friendly building that uses less energy by relying on Earth’s natural resources for heat, light, and power. Green schools have clean air, a lot of natural light, and renewable power sources. The U.S. Green Building Council says there are about 630 green schools in the United States and that there will be many more by 2010.

New studies show that green schools are not only good for the environment, but good for you too! One study found that kids in classrooms with a lot of daylight scored 25 percent higher on reading and math tests than students who studied in rooms with less natural light. Another study noted that students in schools with more natural light took three to four fewer sick days that students exposed to artificial classroom lighting. The study further found that those students had less dental decay because they were exposed to more of the vitamin D produced by the sun.

  Think About It!
  • What are some other ways that a healthy environment might affect learning? Why is it important to save energy and protect the environment?

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    The Willow School in Gladstone, N.J., is a K–8 school that was built as a green building in 2002. Sections of the building are made entirely from recycled materials. To help trap heat, for example, construction workers stuffed the walls with material from old blue jeans instead of the traditional insulation made of chemicals. Every classroom has skylights to allow optimal sunlight, and solar panels line the south end of the building. The Willow School utilizes about 70 percent less energy than a non–green school. This helps the school cut down on high energy costs.

    Kate Burke Walsh, head of the Willow School, agrees that green schools lead to healthier, happier students. “Sunlight has an impact—you’re happier,” she says. The clean, natural surroundings help both students and teachers “handle stress and stay relaxed and focused … it’s a very calming atmosphere.”

    Wish your school were green? Feeling green with envy? Talk to your parents and school leaders about ways to catch the green wave. Click here to find out more.

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