Roadmap to Green Schools

1. Roadmap to Green Schools Brian Gautreau Green Schools Coordinator Louisiana Environmental Education Commission

2. Louisiana Green Schools Program • Nomination for the ED-GRS Award • Education / Outreach • Mentoring • Financial support • Linkage with partners

3. So, What’s a Green School Anyway? • Successfully address sustainability issues • A green school is a healthy environment conducive to interdisciplinary learning while saving energy, resources and money.

4. So, What’s a Green School Anyway? The Three Pillars of a Green School • Reduce environmental impacts and costs • Improve support of health and wellness • Provide effective environmental and sustainability education

5. I. Reduce Environmental Impacts and Costs • Reduced or eliminated greenhouse gas emissions, using an energy audit or emissions inventory and reduction plan, cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, conservation measures, and/or on-site renewable energy and/or purchase of green power; • Improved water quality, efficiency, and conservation; • Reduced solid and hazardous waste production through increased recycling and composting, reduced consumption, and improved management, reduction, or elimination of hazardous waste; and • Expanded use of alternative transportation, through active promotion of locally-available, energy-efficient options and implementation of alternative transportation supportive projects and policies.

6. II. Improve Support of Student Health and Wellness • High standards of coordinated school health, including health, nutrition, and outdoor physical education; health, counseling, and psychological services for both students and staff; family community involvement; and • An integrated school environmental health program that considers occupant health and safety in all design, construction, renovation, operations, and maintenance of facilities and grounds.

7. III. Provide Effective Environmental and Sustainability Education • Interdisciplinary learning about the key relationships between dynamic environmental, energy, and human systems; • Use of the environment and sustainability to develop STEM content knowledge and thinking skills to prepare graduates for the 21st century technology-driven economy;  and • Development of civic engagement knowledge and skills and students’ application of such knowledge and skills to address sustainability issues in their community.

8. Examples of Green Schools Westdale Heights Academic Magnet Baton Rouge Magnet High School • Energy efficient renovations • Strong Environmental Science Program • Coordinated efforts for student health and wellness • Outdoor classroom • Citizen science programs

9. Academic Opportunities • School facilities clearly affect learning. • Lighting • Indoor Air Quality • Temperature Mendell, M. J., & Heath, G. A. (2005). Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? A critical review of the literature. Indoor Air, 15(1), 27-52.

10. Academic Opportunities • School facilities clearly affect learning. • Lighting • Indoor Air Quality • Temperature Daylighting • Students learn faster • Test higher1 • 21,000 students studied (western states) • Classrooms progressed 20% faster on math tests • 26% faster on reading tests • 7-18% higher scores than least daylit classroom2 • North Carolina showed 5-14% in testing gains3 1. Hathaway, Hargreaves, Thompson, and Novitsky (Jan. 1992). A Study Into the Effects of Light on Children of Elementary School Age – A Case of Daylight Robbery, Policy and Planning Branch, Planning and Information Services Division, Alberta Education. 2. Heschong Mahone Group (Aug. 1999). Daylighting in Schools, An Investigation into the Relationship Between Daylighting and Human Performance, Detailed Report. Fair Oaks, CA. 3. Nicklas, Michael H., and Bailey, Gary B. (1996). Daylighting In Schools, Energy Costs Reduced… Student Performance Improved, Innovative Design, Raleigh, North Carolina.

11. Academic Opportunities • School facilities clearly affect learning. • Lighting • Indoor Air Quality • Temperature • Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) • Ill effects linked to time spent in building, no specific illness identified. • Building Related Illness (BRI) • Diagnosable illness identified (eg. certain allergiesleagionairs) and can be directly attributed to airborne building contaminants. SBS symptoms can include: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, cough, sneezing, eye, nose, and throat irritation, skin irritation, dizziness, and nausea, as well as trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions

12. Academic Opportunities • School facilities clearly affect learning. • Lighting • Indoor Air Quality • Temperature • When ventalation rates are below national standards (~15 cfm), a 5-10% decrease in test performance occurred.1 • In another study, each 2.1 cfm increase of ventilation (up to 15 cfm) resulted in a 2.7% (math) and 2.9% (reading) increase in students passing standardized tests.2 1. Baker, L., & Bernstein, H. (2012). The impact of school buildings on student health and performance. The Center for Green Schools. 2. Haverinen-Shaughnessy, U., D.J. Moschandreas, and R.J. Shaughnessy, "Association between substandard classroom ventilation rates and students' academic achievement". Indoor Air, 2011. 21(2): p. 121-31

13. Academic Opportunities • School facilities clearly affect learning. • Lighting • Indoor Air Quality • Temperature • Studies show a link between temperature and student performance. • Optimal temperatures between 68 – 73.4 F. 1. Harner, D. P. (1974). Effects of Thermal Environment on Learning Skills.CEFP Journal, 12(2), 4-6.

14. Academic Opportunities • But of course so does what we do with our students… • Support of Student Health • Environmental Education

15. Academic Opportunities • But of course so does what we do with our students… • Support of Student Health • Environmental Education • Positive correlation between academic achievement and physical activity.1 • Positive correlation between academic achievement and behavior and time spent/views of outdoors.2,3 1. Trudeau, F., & Shephard, R. J. (2008). Physical education, school physical activity, school sports and academic performance. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5(1), 10. 2. A review of research on outdoor learning. National Foundation for Educational Research and King's College, 2004. 3. Matsuoka, R. H. (2010). Student performance and high school landscapes: Examining the links. Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(4), 273-282. Chicago.

16. Academic Opportunities • But of course so does what we do with our students… • Support of Student Health • Environmental Education Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) Lieberman, G. A., & Hoody, L. L. (1998). Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning. Executive Summary.

17. Economic Opportunities • Green schools use an average of 33% less energy and 32% less water than conventionally designed schools, and only cost $3/sqft. more than conventionally designed schools.1 • St. Tammany • Energy Management Program, over $7 million in savings between 2005-2011 • Claiborne Elementary • $2.07 sqft (2012) to $1.32 per sqft (2013), a 46% reduction! • Hammond Jr. High Magnet School • Over 14,000 kWh reduction in electricity use in just two months. 1. Kats, G. (2006). Greening America’s schools: Costs and benefits. A Capital E Report. Available at: www.cap-e.com. (accessed 1 June 2016).

18. Training • Project WILD, Aquatic WILD • Summer Workshop • LSTA/LATM Joint Conference • EE Symposium

19. Grants/Funding • Green School Grants • Up to $5,000 • Teacher Grants • Up to $1,000 single teacher, $2,000 joint • Professional Development Grants • Up to $2,500

20. You’re Not Alone!

21. 1,2,3 Network! Josetta Leboeuf Baton Rouge Magnet High School Dr. Mary Legoria Westdale Heights Academic Magnet

22. 1,2,3 Network! Roundtable 3 Rotations ~10-15 minutes each.

23. Developing Your Roadmap Using the Green Ribbon Schools Pillars and Elements to evaluate and develop a plan for your school.