Green Schools In West Virginia
Did you know there was a green school in West Virginia? Hopefully there
are many green schools in West Virginia and we hope you have the time to tell us
about them. Are you working in an existing school teaching kids about
recycling and responsible energy use? Are you a green club member working
hard on sustainable issues in your school and your community? We encourage
you to share all you green school stories so we can work to involve even more
West Virginia students, teachers and parents.
Hilltop Elementary School in Marshall County is one of the greenest schools around. They are so green they have applied to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The kids at this school get a good dose of sustainable living and energy conservation every day, just by going to school. The workings of the school is as good as any textbook.
Green schools start with the construction where green materials are used where ever possible. Green materials all have a certain percentage of recycled waste in their makeup. Carpet, drywall, concrete and steel can all be made with recycled material, as well as many other building products. An example of this is the siding and roofing used at Hilltop. It is Cradle to Cradle. This means the manufacturer will take the metal back, when the building is eventually torn down, and recycle it into new siding and roofing. Another environmentally friendly aspect of green schools is the way the job site waste is handled. A very large percentage of this gets recycled and stays out of the landfill.
When the students are are learning about the makings of their school they will learn and come to understand why so many of the products used were manufactured locally. They will understand about local economies and the carbon footprint created by trucking building supplies across the country.
The Hilltop students will learn about the emphasis put on long term maintenance of the building. Care was given to choose products that do not require chemical cleaners or finishes to keep them looking nice. Fewer chemicals in the air creates a healthier environment. Green schools emphasize clean air, natural light and energy conservation. They also promote a curriculum that teaches the students about why these things are important.
Schools like Hilltop Elementary should act as models for other schools to learn from. You don't have to have a new building to teach sustainable living and energy conservation. You don't have to have a new building to promote walking, biking or public transportation. Older schools can compost and grow gardens, they can recycle and they can install solar panels. Any school can have a green club where the kids go out into the community and pick up trash, or hand out reusable bags, or any number of other things green club members do.
What are you dong to green a school in West Virginia?
Tell us about your green school.
A green school, club or activity you are proud of.
Top of Green Schools In West Virginia
