A Greener School?

Question

What kinds of modifications would you have to make a environmentally efficient school (e.g. Architecture, Landscaping, Energy Conservation, Transportation, Food Consumption, etc)? Please list resources if possible.

Answer 1

This is from a New Zealand site but it might be helpful for you.

Answer 2

I would Shut schools down for 3 more weeks a year. I work in a guidance office for my lunch period, and I have to do some filing, and most of NYC's schools use fresh Georgia Pacific paper, which isn't recycled. Thereoff instead of breaking students' backs and filing and killing tree's I would rely on computers completely for the student records, whereas paper files which go into a cabinet can easily e caught on fire! Handouts will all be emailed to students from one book that a techer has which will be scanned and e-mailed through the school network of which the teacher's connect to the students with. Also it would definately help if such ignorant teacher's would actually close the windows when they use the air conditioning. Also when the school day ends, I would definately shut down all the power the school has drawn. Apparently schools are the number 4 cause of global warming, because they use incandescent lightbulbs, and notice how they keep it running all night long? I would also then. unplug everything that isn't neccessary, such as pencil sharpeners,also when the auditorium is not in use, I would definately shut off all the power routed to the room. Plus Each time I go to global, there are these two old L*****n teachers, who always leave the old computers on, which are older than me! thereoff using alot of energy, at least have a power saving mode where it automatically shuts off or hibernates after 5 minutes of ide time! Mounting the Air conditioners at the ceiling and the heaters closer to the ground will work more effeciently using less energy to heat and cool the room, because hot air rises, and cold air sinks!  We can also  Plant lawns around the school, instead of using plastic garbage astroturf, at least make an attempt to use real grass!!! All the stupid things done by schools that lead to global warming, first off school was meant for an education to make you smarter, but how is it supposed to save the world when the people that run it are stupid in the FIRST PLACE!?!?!? In terms of transportation, It'd really benefit if students were allowed to ride their bikes to school or use skateboards,and skate or ride their bikes, and waiving the 2,000ft radius policy! Architecture also can make the school much much more energy efficient. Did you know that? if you have crowded hallways, then you have decreased productivity which also wastes power because you have to have longer periods, longer distances between latebells. Apparently if you create a different hall system where everybody stays on their right, like when you drive on the road! then there are fewer crowds, and trust me! If you can do this in a school with 6,000 students (Thomas A. Edison) then you can do it in many other schools, because my school has 6,000 smart students, and it is a very very dense building, whereas we are about 35-43 student a class! and just to prove that architect has an effect on energy, you need more time to take to get to places, and you need a longer period to catch up on notes you missed when you were walking in late to class, and since there is a longer period, then you will have the lights turned on longer, and the smartboard running for a long amount of time, which uses gobs of energy! Thereoff I believe these improvements can make a school turn "green".

Answer 3

Methane produced heat and possibly power from waste from the cafeteria, and the rest of the school.  Solar panels for electricity. Compost waste to use in gardens. Reduce paper homework (kids are forced to hand in a whole sheet of paper even if there is 1/8 of it written on!). Put lights on timers/sensors so they aren't on when no one's in a room.  Low flow toilets and showers.   There are LOTS of things schools could do!

Answer 4

Addition of solar power (there is actually a federal program for 'green schools' in the states for this)

Changes in water fountains, lockerroom showerheads, using solar water heaters, methanol or propane powered busses. Add trees for shading where possible. Using Energy Star appliances where possible.