Green Schools Toolkit: Reduce Your Footprint

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Buildings Design & Performance  •   Energy Conservation  •   Energy Conservation: IT Policy
Energy Efficiency: General  •  Energy Efficiency: Lighting  •   Energy Efficiency: HVAC
Renewable Energy •  Calculators and Registries •  Food Services •  Green Cleaning
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) •  Site and Landscaping/O&M •  Water Conservation: Outdoors
Water Conservation: Indoors •  Transportation • Waste & Recycling •  Procurement
Financing Your Green School

Renewable Energy

• Purchase Green-E Certified Renewable Energy
• Generate on-site renewable energy (solar, wind)

Calculators and Registries

• Purchase energy offsets
• Integrate carbon calculators into math and science class curriculum

Food Services

• Promote waste-free lunch
• Change cafeteria food to be more local, organic, and sustainable
• Grow cafeteria food in a school garden
• Compost cafeteria waste and return to the garden
• Eliminate cafeteria trays to reduce food waste by up to 30%
• Encourage reusable plates & flatware at school-related events
• Adopt a once-a-month (or once a week) cafeteria cold lunch program
• Encourage locally grown, organic food
• Host a food Co-op for members of the school community
• Assess dining services: work toward minimal packaging for products, recyclable containers, low-phosphate detergents

Green Cleaning

• Use green cleaning supplies
• Follow EPA's green cleaning guidelines
• Use integrated pest management in controlling indoor pests
• Purchase & use sustainable cleaning equipment
• Implement a Custodial Effectiveness Assessment/High Performance Cleaning Program
• Install/maintain dirt-catching entryway systems
• Engage custodial staff to become your "energy police" and turn off lights, windows and appliances

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

• Develop and Implement an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Program
• Ban smoking indoors & within 25 feet of doors and windows
• Install high-efficiency air filtration/air cleaning system
• Install outdoor air delivery & monitoring system
• Conduct IEQ survey [Feedback] & thermal comfort monitoring [Measure]
• Install & use operable windows where outdoor air quality & noise levels are acceptable

Site and Landscaping/O&M

• Reduce pesticide & chemical use
• Implement organic or integrated pest management system for controlling outdoor pests
• Develop & implement an open spaces protection plan
• Develop & implement an erosion control plan
• Reduce turf grass and invasive species; increase native plantings to minimize mowing 
• Create animal friendly habitat such as wetland, rain garden, butterfly garden, birdhouse
• Use natural, organic fertilizer
• Compost yard waste
• Maximize underutilized exterior spaces, such as by creating green roofs
• Minimize "over-paved" hardscape
• View case study: Riverdale Country School

Water Conservation: Outdoors

• Create drip and/or efficient irrigation systems
• Use low water landscaping from native and adaptive plants  (xeriscaping)
• Create storm water management system (cisterns, ponds, rain garden / constructed wetlands)
• Install permeable pavement
• Use captured storm water for irrigation
• View case study: Riverdale Country School

Water Conservation: Indoors

• Use dual flush toilets and/or microflush or waterless urinals
• Use efficient flow fixtures (lavatories, showers, faucets, etc.)
• Capture and reuse grey water (showers, dishwashing, handwashing, etc)
• Monitor water use

Return to the beginning of the Reduce Your Footprint section.