A fabulous new contest has been posted through the Purology Website with an amazing prize awarded to a SCHOOL for upgrading and reducing their carbon footprint. Who doesn't want a greener environment for their kids at school? (Think recycling bins throughout, low-wattage lights, water and energy-conserving improvements, and so on...!)

My son's school has the Dyson hand dryers in the bathrooms, they rely 100% on solar panels to light the schools, they have several marked "Carpool" and "Fuel Efficient" parking spaces, parking spots to charge electric cars, low-water flushing systems in the restrooms and recycling cans highly visible through the entire school. This was a factor in us deciding to send him there in the first place, it's great to see an awareness and an attempt to reduce waste. As we all know, change begins at home, and with our children. Where better to start at, than at their schools?

Read on to see what you can do to score a makeover for your school!

ENTER JANUARY 1 - MARCH 31

WHY GREEN SCHOOLS?

When a school goes green, children benefit—as well as the environment! Green schools lead to:

Improved student performance. When children learn in classrooms with natural daylight, improved sound quality and non-toxic building materials such as non-VOC carpets and paints, test scores can improve as much as 20%. Attendance also improves!

More funds for student resources. When green upgrades are made to a school, water and energy costs can be reduced by as much as 40%. These savings can be channeled back into resources that directly benefit students, such as textbooks, computers and other essentials.

Reduced carbon footprint. Greening a school significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.

GREENER SCHOOLS = A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Every child deserves a learning environment that’s safe, comfortable and free of harmful toxins. Unfortunately, many schools across the country lack the funds to carry out much-needed repairs and renovations—subjecting children to outdated facilities with improper ventilation, poor lighting and inefficient energy usage. Global Green USA is working to address this situation and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a healthy, green school.

You can help by nominating a school in your area for a Green School Makeover—read on to learn more, and find out how you can green your school

Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin, TX, won the first Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition presented by Pureology. Established in 1856, TSD is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas and provides an exceptional curriculum to deaf and hard of-hearing students, ages 0-22. TSD worked alongside Global Green USA and Pureology to implement the green upgrades and the cost savings will be reinvested into the students’ education.

TDS's Green School Makeover included:
	Energy efficient upgrades: Retrofitting light fixtures to use energy efficient bulbs = TSD will save enough energy to power an efficient two-bedroom home for a year!
	Water conservation: Replacing manual faucets with automatic technology = TSD will save enough water to fill nine swimming pools! Installing rain barrels to collect water from the roof = Water is now available for areas throughout the campus that do not have irrigation. Bonus: Students learn about the vital function of rainwater harvesting.
	Waste reduction: Installing hands-free dryers in restrooms = The new dryers take half the electricity to run and save paper and materials from going into landfills. Switching to reusable bottles and installing a tap filtration system = TSD reinvests the $20,000 they spent on bottled water every year. Bonus: 88,000 water bottles will be kept out of our landfills!
	Educate student body on recycling: Installing recycling bins across campus = Makes recycling easier and encourages recycling campus-wide. Bonus: Students bring their good recycling habits home to support a greener lifestyle!

Texas School for the Deaf Testimonials:

TSD is open 24/7, 12 months a year so it’s important that we operate as efficiently and responsibly as possible With our recent Green School Makeover, we implemented upgrades that will lead to cost savings to reinvest in our curriculum, improved carbon footprint and campus morale, and involved students in building a healthier and safer environment.”
—Claire Bugen, Superintendent, Texas School for the Deaf

TSD students and staff are participating in our green efforts and being more conscious. Students sometimes leave water running accidentally, or don’t hear leaking faucets. Our new automatic faucets help us reduce water, and automatic dryers eliminate paper towel waste. We use reusable bottles now so TSD no longer has to stock bottled water and dispose of the plastic waste.”
—Conner Miers, student, Texas School for the Deaf

“As a parent, it is important for my son to attend a school that provides a nurturing learning environment. TSD’s Green School Makeover brought needed attention to students, faculty and families. It’s important for the school and its community to work together—so we’re all are on the same page—teaching at home, as well as everywhere on campus.”
—Christy Miers, parent, Texas School for the Deaf

IDEAS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

Create a recycling program
Conduct an energy audit to determine ways energy can be saved
Install solar shades to improve natural daylighting of classrooms
Switch to green cleaning products
Install energy-efficient light bulbs
Use sustainable building materials, such as bamboo flooring and recycled runner gym mats
Replace outdated or unsafe carpets and other materials with new, non-toxic ones

Every child deserves a learning environment that’s safe, comfortable and free of harmful toxins. Unfortunately, many schools across the country lack the funds to carry out much-needed repairs and renovations—subjecting children to outdated facilities with improper ventilation, poor lighting and inefficient energy usage. Global Green USA is working to address this situation and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a healthy, green school.

You can help by nominating a school in your area for a Green School Makeover—click the link below to learn more, and find out how you can green your school!

VISIT THE Pureology Website TO APPLY

~Bridget