Resources

USGBC and the Center for Green Schools advocate on the federal level on behalf of healthier, greener school facilities and high-quality sustainability education for all children. This brief explains the priorities for our legislative advocacy in 2021.

Asthma impacts one in twelve children in the United States and is a leading contributor to student absenteeism. Chronic illnesses like asthma may even increase students’ risk of impacts from COVID-19. Purchasing environmentally healthier cleaning products, filters, furniture and rugs, and markers and paints can reduce a significant number of irritants and allergens that contribute to asthma symptoms in school settings.

The Healthy Green Purchasing for Asthma Prevention Guidebook helps schools meet the health needs of students, families, and school staff with environmentally preferred products. The guide serves as a resource for all who care about healthy purchasing for asthma prevention at the school level.

Use this powerpoint and speaker notes to give an overview of the Center for Green Schools' work to your school, district, or colleagues; or review it yourself to better understand our work and how we can support your green school initiatives.

This powerpoint presentation is intended for use by green school supporters and advocates. It can be used to communicate the importance of green schools, why they matter, and what is included in a vision for green schools. The presentation includes speaker notes.

The Sharing the Table Roadmap addresses the food waste problem in schools through a simple approach of creating and implementing food waste reduction and recovery programs. Food waste can be dramatically reduced and surplus food can be provided to feed the community, through well designed surplus food reduction and recovery programs. These programs function with two main goals: (1) to reduce the amount of food waste created by school meals and (2) to recover perfectly good surplus food to feed those in need in the community.

Earn continuing education hours by reading this report on Education @USGBC.

Skokie, IL

The highest LEED rated aquatics center in the US, the Niles North High School Aquatics Center is 39,204 sf and achieved LEED Gold in December of 2014. This facility uses 44% less energy and 42% less water compared to a typical facility of similar size.

Encinitas, CA

This project on the campus of the Grauer School is 9,196 square feet and was certified Gold in April of 2017. The new building has solar panels, a highly efficient HVAC system, and increased green space. In addition, the school devotes a third of their 6-acre campus to wildlife, native habitats, and nature trails.

Cambridge, MA

Originally built in 1931, the newly renovated Cambridge Rindge school is 403,393 square feet and achieved LEED Gold in July of 2013. This 1,700-student school lowered their operating costs by $335,000 annually.

Chapel Hill, NC

Northside Elementary School in Chapel Hill, NC, is 99,500 square feet and was certified LEED Platinum in July of 2014. This new school, built on a site that has housed a school since 1924, incorporates storm water management strategies such as a rainwater cistern and pervious pavements.

Washington, DC

The first public high school for African Americans, the historic Dunbar Senior High School in Washington, DC was certified LEED Platinum in February of 2015. At 276,000 square feet, this school ties in its historic roots with elements such as a solar array and radiant flooring to save $250,000 in annual energy costs compared to the average DC public school.

Hyattsville, MD

Outperforming the Maryland High Performance Program requirements, Edward M. Felegy Elementary School in Hyattsville, MD achieved LEED Gold certification in October of 2017. Some of the sustainable strategies for this 92,000 square foot facility include a green roof, bioswales, and access to daylight in 91% of classrooms.

Willard, OH

Opened in the fall of 2015, Willard City Schools K-12 Campus in Willard, OH is a 233,000 square foot facility that has achieved LEED Silver. This campus incorporates natural light and open floor plans and features studios and collaborative spaces to support 21st century learning.

Woody Creek, CO

With 20,187 square feet and 130 students, Aspen Community School near Aspen, CO achieved LEED Gold in April 2017. This school’s recycled fish net carpet, in-floor radiant heating, and 39kW photovoltaic system support its passion for the surrounding environment.

Owings Mill, MD

At 94,900 square feet, Lyons Mill Elementary School in Owings Mill, MD achieved LEED Silver certification in October of 2011. This 715-student facility features a central media center that merges the indoors and outdoors at the heart of the building as well as a rooftop classroom terrace.

Oulu, Finland

The Hiukkavaara Community Center in Oulu, Finland is about 11,000 square meters, or over 118,000 square feet, and achieved LEED Gold certification in August 2017. The community center has facilities to accommodate 700 pupils, including grades 1-9, a day care, adult education, and sports. The center was designed with automated control of HVAC and lighting and eliminated irrigation to reduce potable water usage.

Alexandria, MN

The Alexandria Area High School in Minnesota is a little over 280,000 square feet and achieved LEED Silver certification in September of 2015. With two new three-story academic wings, housing 36 classrooms and 12 flexible learning spaces for groups of all sizes, the high school put sustainability as a core pillar for the design of the project.

Chicago, IL

The Aspira Business & Finance High School in Chicago, IL, began project design in 2010 and finished 5 years later at a cost of $22 million, achieving LEED Gold certification halfway through 2016. At just over 81,000 square feet, the charter school accommodates 900 students in a compact urban site, utilizing green and white roofs while prioritizing materials for the building that are low in VOCs and recyclable.

Athens, Greece

In October 2014, the HAEF Preschool & Kindergarten building was the first building in Greece to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Just under 37,000 square feet, this facility takes advantage of daylighting and natural ventilation, with a green roof on top of the building.

Albuquerque, NM

At 85,000 square feet, Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque achieved LEED Gold certification in October of 2017. Part of the largest school district in New Mexico, this school was able to save 59% on annual energy costs through its sustainable design.

Ladue, MO

Opened in the spring of 2014 and certified LEED Platinum the following year, these two new halls at the Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School add a combined 85,000 square feet to campus facilities. Located in Ladue, Missouri, the new facilities utilize thermal windows and PV cells, as well as display energy dashboards for their students to see the reduced impact their school has on the environment.

Houston, TX

LEED Certified in the fall of 2017, the Grady Middle School Addition is just above 56,000 square feet. With a focus on utilizing natural daylight, the new addition includes learning centers, science classrooms, and an educational courtyard.

This toolkit is designed to help green schools allies address sustainability issues and impact greener policies at the school district level.

The Green Schools National Network brings us the Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly (GSCQ), the only peer reviewed, high interest digital magazine that highlights evidence-based practices for replication in green, healthy, sustainable schools. GSCQ explores issues in-depth, including qualitative and quantitative research, and includes columns that report on and explore emergent issues.

Building on the 2016 State of Our Schools report, the Planning for PK-12 Infrastructure Initiative (P4si Initiative) formulated a systems-based plan to address the structural problems of inequitable and inadequate school facilities.

Six national cross-sector working groups organized around basic elements of a well-managed facilities program: Data and Information, Educational Facilities Planning, Management, Funding, Governance and Decision Making, and Accountability, came together for this initiative and developed a menu of solutions to guide school funding and infrastructure at the federal, state and local levels. Published in March 2017, the Adequate & Equitable U.S. PK-12 Infrastructure: Priority Actions for Systemic Reform report presents the working groups’ recommended priority action items, which are intended to build and sustain high-performance public PK-12 facilities for all children.

Adequate & Equitable U.S. PK-12 Infrastructure: Priority Actions for Systemic Reform is a joint publication of the 21st Century School Fund, the National Council on School Facilities, The Center for Cities + Schools and the U.S. Green Building Council.