Green Schools In Wisconsin
Are you working with a green school in Wisconsin? Shouldn't all schools
be green? They can be, it just takes enough of us that care about teaching
our kids the valuable lessons of sustainability and energy conservation.
If your school is doing this we would love to know what you are doing and how
you are doing it.
Newly constructed green schools set examples for other schools to learn from. Not all schools can have a new "green" structure but they can all work to improve their facility and include sustainability issues into their curriculum.
Wisconsin has a few very good example schools for any of you needing green ideas. Some of the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified schools in the state are John J. Flynn Elementary School, Luck k-12 School, Northland Pines High School, Paul J. Olson Elementary School and the River Crest Elementary School.
The River Crest Elementary School received a gold rating by the LEED program, making it the first elementary school in the state to do it, and only the second in the nation. In very simple terms you have to be very green to get a gold rating.
One common feature amongst all green schools is the use of natural light. Not only does this save on energy use it also creates a healthier learning environment. All the windows and well lit rooms are one of the most notable and well liked aspects at River Crest. An important part of a healthy environment is air quality. River Crest handles this with careful monitoring of carbon dioxide levels and the use of low or no VOC building materials used in the school construction.
Water is conserved at this school by using low flow fixtures like dual flush valves and waterless urinals. Other less noticed items on the green list are green building materials and recycled material. When this school was being built an amazing 97% of the waste was recycled, thus avoiding the landfill. Another eco-friendly fact is the amount of material they were able to purchase from local suppliers. The less distance the product travels the smaller the carbon footprint and all these things are considered before a gold rating is handed out.
Green schools can give us so many useful ideas, ideas we can use in our existing buildings. Green schools all teach energy conservation and in most cases the building is the text book. The kids learn by seeing and by doing. They can see the water being collected and reused, or the energy being created by solar panels, or the small amount of cars in the parking lot because walking and biking is promoted with the simple addition of changing rooms and bike racks.
What are you doing to green a school in Wisconsin? Tell us your story so others can learn and get involved.
What Other Visitors Have Said
More green schools in Wisconsin.
Green School News The Green Team at Burlington High School is working hard to green the school. They have worked hard to get recycling containers used in the proper way ...
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