Illinois Greening Schools Illinois WMRC Illinois EPA Illinois DNR

Greening Schools’ Mission Greening Schools project is a state governmental effort designed to assist schools with:  Improving physical environmental conditions  Providing standards-based tools to introduce concepts of waste reduction and pollution prevention.

Greening Schools Services Technical assistance On-site review of school facilities Training workshops Listserv and website Extensive resources Online help desk to answer questions

Greening School Benefits Include Lower operating costs Increased safety and environmental health at school for students and staff Professional development credits and administrator credits Improved learning conditions Set an example of environmental responsibility and sustainable behavior

Constraints include: Limited funding Rising energy and maintenance costs Lack of resources and technical assistance Lack of time to research resources

What is a Green School? High Performance Schools: Improve student academic performance Promotes student and staff health Supports healthy lifestyle choices Cost effective (lower operating expenses) Reduces building’s environmental footprint

Design Elements of a Healthy High Performance School Assess needs and establish a planning team Plan your building Design to reduce operating costs Consider Health, Safety and Comfort (students AND staff) Protect environment

When was the last time you sat in a classroom, in an older building Could you open windows? (allergies) Dressed for winter, room temperature was 86 degrees Disagreeable odors How can this school be a high performance school?

Plan your building to include: Life cycle cost analysis Environmentally responsive site planning Energy analysis tools Commissioning Energy efficient building shell Thermal, acoustic, air quality comforts

Energy Use For most school districts, energy use and other utilities are the second biggest operating expense. School energy costs are estimated at $110 per student per year Too many new schools don’t consider energy use.

Typical Building Electrical Costs

Traditional Daylighting

Greening Schools also provides: Fact sheets Access to grants and funding opportunities Checklists Standards-based lesson plans Curricula Activities All related to waste reduction, pollution prevention and energy efficiency.

Outreach Meet with school administrators and district superintendents Provides school or district presentations for classes or conferences

On-site workshops and reviews Safe Chemicals in Education for Teachers Workshop with Illinois EPA & Illinois WMRC Healthy Art & Theater Teacher Workshops Administrator Academy Workshop (Currently offering IPM & Chemical Management) Keeping Schools Healthy and Safe for Custodians Energy audits and assessments Greening Lesson Plans

Online Technical Assistance Do you have environmental issues at your school? Do you have concerns about operating costs, energy efficiency, conservation or other pollution prevention efforts? Do you want to make school more "environmentally friendly?" Advice is FREE! Online form obtains technical assistance.

WMRC’s Library Contributes to the Biblioresources Is a Clearinghouse for Pollution Prevention and Waste Management Resources Can be reached at or

Greening Schools contacts Carol Knepp, , Becky Lockart, ,