SMART Schools® Recognition & Toolkit

Submitted by admin on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 22:10

SMART Schools® Recognition & Toolkit

(Sustainability Metrics And Resource Tools)

The challenges we face are daunting: climate change, resource depletion, pollution, habitat destruction, species extinction, and more. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, but you can do your part to create a brighter future. Start thinking differently about how you use energy and water, generate waste, consume food, construct buildings, purchase supplies, landscape and clean. Be an agent of change. Become a Green School!

GSA Recognition Program

Become A Global Leader in Your Own Community

In order to gain Recognition as a SMART School, a school must join the GSA and update their Profile Page. Schools that implement and report their ACTIONS in all 6 STEPS on their GSA Member Profile Page, will receive Recognition at the Climate Steward or Climate Champion level. A school can apply for either of these designations based on meeting the criteria of either level.

How to Use The Toolkit

Whether or not you are a GSA member, or apply for the SMART Schools Recognition Program, this Toolkit is a roadmap that is available to everyone. Each of the 6 TOOLKIT STEPS (below) offers a ROADMAP with specific ACTIONS to guide your efforts. Learn about ways you can save money, reduce GHG emissions and energy use, water, & waste, become healthier and more sustainable.

Click on any of the 6 STEPS below, or at the Left Menu, in any order. Each of the 6 STEPS will lead to a variety of green ACTIONS that your school can undertake. We recognize that each school is at a different starting point. Feel free to enter this Toolkit at any of the 6 STEPS below:

Make The Commitment Join The GSA
Build Your Task Force Build a Team across the whole school community
Know Your Numbers You can't reduce what you don't measure.
Reduce Your Footprint 20 Topic Areas addressing resources, building & grounds
Educate Your Community Curriculum & programs to generate education & action
Share Your Progress Members report progress to earn GSA RECOGNITION

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About Our Toolkit

In the summer of 2009, one hundred outstanding environmental faculty and student leaders, nominated by their schools, participated in the inaugural National Student Climate and Conservation Congress (Sc3), a GSA program in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Conservation Center (NCTC). Together, participants developed a list of "tools" needed to help them implement their climate and conservation action plans developed at the Congress. This SMART Schools® Toolkit was developed to support them and others wanting to reduce their environmental impact in school and beyond the school walls.

The Green Schools Alliance is about schools guiding schools, sharing best practices, inspiring and supporting each other’s goals. This Toolkit is unique because it is created by GSA Member schools, for schools, and contains real success stories and proven tools from students, teachers, staff members and administrators. Whether you are from a school who is just getting started, or a school who is well on your way, you will find answers to your questions about going green.

The SMART Schools® Toolkit is an on-going interactive document, developed by schools for schools to share resources and best practices. It is a living document, updated on an on-going basis by GSA Member Schools and Corporate and NGO partners. The Toolkit draws from all parts of GSA Online to help you find resources at the local, regional or national scale. Each Section contains: DESCRIPTIONS, CASE STUDIES and RESOURCES.

If you don't see what you are looking for, feel free to add to it (this option is available to GSA members only, so please consider joining the Alliance!

Additional Resources