(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Dale Kildee, Education and Labor Committee Member and Chair of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.)
Today is the 40th celebration of Earth Day – a day of action and of giving back to our planet. Events are taking place in communities across the nation, in schools and on college campuses. Through acts as simple as changing a light bulb or planting a tree, and as complex as committing themselves to “going green” in all aspects of their lives, people throughout our country are making a big difference. Congress has also made a commitment to do its part by helping to make our schools part of the green solution.
School buildings should be safe, healthy and modern learning environments for children and teachers. By helping school districts to make schools environmentally friendly, or “green,” we can create facilities that have tremendous health, educational, financial and environmental benefits.
Today is the 40th celebration of Earth Day – a day of action and of giving back to our planet. Events are taking place in communities across the nation, in schools and on college campuses. Through acts as simple as changing a light bulb or planting a tree, and as complex as committing themselves to “going green” in all aspects of their lives, people throughout our country are making a big difference. Congress has also made a commitment to do its part by helping to make our schools part of the green solution.School buildings should be safe, healthy and modern learning environments for children and teachers. By helping school districts to make schools environmentally friendly, or “green,” we can create facilities that have tremendous health, educational, financial and environmental benefits.
Research has shown that green schools are both healthy and conducive to
learning. Studies have demonstrated a reduction in absences due to
illness caused by schools’ indoor pollutants. These illnesses, such as
asthma, are the cause of more than fourteen million missed school days
each year. Improved ventilation, day lighting, acoustics and indoor air
quality have also been shown to boost academic performance,
concentration and overall student achievement. Due to improved teacher
retention and increased student attendance, there is more time for
teaching and learning in these productive environments.
In addition to the health and learning benefits, green schools use 33% less energy and 30% less water than a conventional school. On average, this saves the typical green school $100,000 each year in reduced energy and water costs. Green schools also reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions, which helps diminish global climate change and lessen our collective carbon footprint. Additionally, these schools become interactive teaching tools where students see, first-hand, the importance of protecting our planet and build the capacity to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
According to recent estimates, America’s schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of appropriate facilities funding, and millions of students attend schools that are unhealthy and unsafe. To address these challenges and help to ensure that every child attends a green, high-quality facility, Congressman Ben Chandler (D-KY), Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and I introduced H.R. 3021, “The 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act,” in the 110th Congress. This bill, which passed the House last summer, would dedicate billions of dollars to helping school districts implement school facilities projects that meet a recognized green building standard, and it will continue to be a priority for us in this Congress, as well as for Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), another leader in this effort. Additionally, among “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s” historic investments in education are billions of dollars that school districts can use for such projects, among other uses.
I believe that Congress must be a leader in promoting environmental innovation, especially in helping school districts do so. By helping to create environmentally friendly schools, we can foster a green generation prepared to tackle future challenges. I hope you will join with me this Earth Day to support healthy, high-performing, green schools.
In addition to the health and learning benefits, green schools use 33% less energy and 30% less water than a conventional school. On average, this saves the typical green school $100,000 each year in reduced energy and water costs. Green schools also reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions, which helps diminish global climate change and lessen our collective carbon footprint. Additionally, these schools become interactive teaching tools where students see, first-hand, the importance of protecting our planet and build the capacity to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
According to recent estimates, America’s schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of appropriate facilities funding, and millions of students attend schools that are unhealthy and unsafe. To address these challenges and help to ensure that every child attends a green, high-quality facility, Congressman Ben Chandler (D-KY), Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and I introduced H.R. 3021, “The 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act,” in the 110th Congress. This bill, which passed the House last summer, would dedicate billions of dollars to helping school districts implement school facilities projects that meet a recognized green building standard, and it will continue to be a priority for us in this Congress, as well as for Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), another leader in this effort. Additionally, among “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s” historic investments in education are billions of dollars that school districts can use for such projects, among other uses.
I believe that Congress must be a leader in promoting environmental innovation, especially in helping school districts do so. By helping to create environmentally friendly schools, we can foster a green generation prepared to tackle future challenges. I hope you will join with me this Earth Day to support healthy, high-performing, green schools.
