D.C. man helps D.C. Public Schools budget by 'going green'

December 18, 6:55 PMDC Youth Issues ExaminerAisha Ali

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Nowadays, there has been an increasing trend in adopting environmentally-safe practices to conserve Planet Earth. Tree huggers who have been "acting green" for years, now find themselves saying: “Thank you for joining our regularly-scheduled program— now that our planet is in peril.”

Several organizations/companies with sustainability or “green” missions have prompted the government to raise environmental safety awareness to the forefront, particularly when concerning school sustainability education. While sustainable development stems from the unfortunate reality of Earth’s natural resources being abused, tainted, and neglected, sustainability has key financial advantages for schools, as well.

In a sustainable school, shutting down electrical equipment not being utilized and using energy-saver lights and thermostat controls on radiators reduce energy use. Some of the school’s energy is provided through renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. Recycling such items as paper, aluminum cans, bottles, and plastic are promoted and constantly reinforced, and cleaning staves are encouraged to use green-cleaning products to help protect groundwater. In some cases, rainwater is even collected to preserve school grounds and installing water-saving devices, such as flow-regulating taps, save water. When schools no longer have to pay exorbitant electric or water bills due to energy and water conservation, public school funds are better appropriated to budget areas most deserving.

Perhaps if more schools were to "go green", hundreds of millions of dollars saved could be applied toward schoolbooks and much needed development programs for both students and teachers. D.C. students could definitely use more anti-youth violence programs much like: Peaceoholics, Alliance of Concerned Men, LifeStarts, and the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise— not to mention initiative programs to help underperforming D.C. students better develop mathematics and reading skills. Of course, there are many D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) educators who could use development programs, especially with the present controversy involving them being uncertified. Perhaps, teacher salaries would not be cut. After all, DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee has proposed that high-performing educators receive high-paying salaries-- funds saved through energy and water conservation would definitely help to ensure this implementation.

Sean Miller, director of education for Earth Day Network (EDN), a D.C.-based non-profit organization birthed from the original Earth Day initiative in 1970, told me in an interview that schools in underserved communities can most benefit from sustainability development.  It is these schools that face great expenses because they are located in inner cities; however, funding is frequently wasted towards energy use. “Inner-city schools require the most help, but lack the resources to supply students with schoolbooks or much needed supplies," Miller said. "If inner-city schools decrease energy use by installing solar panels, for example, they could reduce energy bills, and this saved funding could go towards schoolbooks and supplies for students."

Miller, who has recently won a fellowship through the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program granted by the National Audubon Society and Toyota, is currently working alongside D.C students and faculties to convert the DCPS system green. While undergoing this fellowship, Miller will receive expert training in conservation planning and execution, as well as assistance with project outreach and evaluation. At the end of the program, Miller will receive $10,000 towards a community-focused project in which local citizens are to learn how to conserve land, water, and energy and also contribute to greater human-environmental health.

Miller wants to use his experience and money gained from the fellowship to help Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, located in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., to completely “go green”. However, conservation or sustainability is nothing new to Miller nor the students/faculty at Thurgood.

For years, Miller has visited DCPS, along with other state public schools, to stress the importance of recycling and energy and water conservation, while also stressing the human-environmental health benefits of using non-toxic paints. Miller said he and EDN had chosen Thurgood because of the wonderful, long-standing relationship EDN has with this school. “Everyone over at Thurgood is so wonderful— from the kids to the administration. I’ve been working on stellar projects with stellar students and staff members. It was not difficult to decide that my fellowship awarded by Audubon and Toyota was to go to Thurgood,” Miller said. “The students and faculty work so hard. I have been knee-deep in mud with these students to study groundwater and other ways to help teach them the importance of conservation. They are honestly interested and many are excited about green technology and the project.”

Thurgood teachers and administration help to emphasize the importance of sustainability to students, for Miller said he could not have embarked upon this journey alone: “The teachers and administration have been great with reinforcing what students have learned through Earth Day Network's programs. I could not have done this alone.”

Miller and other EDN employees work daily to help schools around the nation “go green”. To date, schools in Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Arlington, VA; and Washington, D.C. have been converted green.  EDN has even worked diligently to pass green policies on behalf of school districts. One major policy, “No Child Left Inside,” which was cleverly coined after “No Child Left Behind,” supports the idea of a green economy where children are educated on the importance of protecting the environment and preserving human-environmental health through conservation. This bill was passed in the House last session, but is still awaiting acceptance from the Senate. EDN also has worked to pass the 21st Century High-Performing Schools Act, which was created after Hurricane Katrina and Rita and is aimed to assist public schools affected by natural disasters, and also encourages school districts to practice sustainability development.

By schools "going green," they will benefit in such ways: increased school funding, as well as sustainability development; the presence of green jobs within schools; and the promotion of green jobs education, which will open up new  windows of opportunity for students.  With President-Elect Barack Obama proposing technology advancement, especially when concerning green technology, Miller and other "green-thinkers" are on the right path by establishing green programs within the nation's schools. 

"Students at Thurgood are very interested in green technology.  I am certain many of these students will later find jobs in green technology," Miller said.

Things schools can do towards sustainable development:

Perform an energy audit: Energy waste has become a huge problem. More effective measures must be taken to improve energy efficiency in schools to significantly reduce costs and help combat climate control. Performing an energy audit will help schools assess how much energy is being used throughout the school, as well as, assist to develop an energy-saving plan. Reducing energy consumption can be achieved through updating heating, improving installation, and installing energy-saver lights. Contact your city-local energy utility for a site visit, or use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) tools to help you calculate the school’s carbon footprint. Use EPA’s Climate Change Emission Calculator Kit (Climate CHECK for high schools) or Global Warming Wheel Card Kit (for middle schools).

Perform a waste audit: A waste audit is a superb way to help students and staves understand the nature and quantity of waste accumulated at schools. A waste audit will help to generate a sufficient waste plan to better discard of waste.

Develop a sufficient recycling program: This is a great way to not only help the environment, but also is the easiest way to both generate cash for your school and make steps towards becoming more sustainable. When thinking of recyclable goods, plastic, paper, glass and aluminum cans first come to mind; however, schools can recycle printer cartridges and set up a mobile phone drive where parents, students, and faculties can collect mobile phones to recycle, as well.

Take the alternative route to school: Students can either walk or bike to school, which not only protects the environment from caustic exhaust fumes, but also provides exercise for children. In a society where approximately nine million children over 6 years-old are obese, more students should be encouraged to exercise. What better way to exercise than to walk or bike to school? If parents transport their children to school, parents should consider forming a carpool of neighborhood children attending same schools. Not only will this save money on gas for many parents, but also help to better the environment.

Small efforts you can take:  (1) Close your blinds during hot summer days to help conserve energy used to cool schools through air conditioning. When blinds are open, heat/energy from the sun quickly warms rooms. The hotter your school becomes, the more your air conditioning has to work to cool down school rooms. (2) Purchase recycled products such as toilet paper or paper napkins.  (3) Purchase green cleaning products.  (4) Reuse paper and make sure paper is used on both sides; if printing materials, make sure to print double-sided.  (5) Recycle when possible.  (6) Install energy-saver light bulbs.  (7) Turn lights off if you are not occupying rooms and switch off computers, photocopiers/printers, and other electrical appliances if they are not being used.

Sources:

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/school.html
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/the-economic-benefit-of-going-green-1645