Why sustainable schools?

"Education can bring about a fundamental shift in how we think, act, and discharge our responsibilities toward one another and the planet."

- Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO.

Education equips today’s students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to tackle real-world challenges with creativity and confidence. Schools play a vital role in helping young people understand complex issues—like how to protect natural resources, manage risks, and strengthen community resilience. By fostering problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation, schools prepare students to shape a future where both people and planet can thrive.

Schools hold the key to a sustainable future in crucial ways:

Modeling sustainable and regenerative practices through teaching and operations, inspiring students and families to practice stewardship in their own lives.
Developing the skills and knowledge people need to thrive in the new sustainable economy, from renewable energy and smart agriculture to green design.
Creating significant aggregated outcomes by directly reducing their environmental impact, and saving schools money for investment in students and staff.
Providing healthy, safe and equitable learning environments in which all students and staff can thrive.

Schools are where children spend most of their time outside the home.

By the time a student graduates from high school, they have spent 15,600 hours inside school buildings. During these crucial developmental years, schools must be a space for creative and solutions-focused thinking that will prepare them to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Benefits of Implementing
Whole-School Sustainability

Students

POSITIVE STUDENT IMPACT

A peer review study by Stanford University found a positive impact as a result of environmental education in 98% of the academic literature, with 90% reported increased skills.
(NAEE and Stanford University, 2016)
IMPROVED STUDENT HEALTH

Improved indoor air quality in schools decreases the the frequency and severity of asthma attacks and positively affects cognitive function outcomes, such as decision-making, attention, concentration, and memory.
(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Green Learning enables students to develop essential new skills, knowledge and solutions-focused thinking necessary to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Stanford Researchers found that 83% of academic literature reported better environment-related behaviors as a result of environmental education.
(NAEE and Stanford University, 2016)
IMPROVED ATTENDANCE, PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING

Green space has been positively associated with reductions in chronic absenteeism and improved academic performance , attention capacity, decreased stress levels, reduced mental fatigue and aggression, and improved coping with attention deficit disorder.
(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

Schools

ENERGY AND WATER SAVING

Sustainable schools use 33% less energy and 32% less water than conventionally constructed schools.
(Greening America’s Schools, 2006)
FINANCIAL SAVINGS

Lower energy and water costs, improved teacher retention, and lowered health costs save green schools approximately four times the cost of going green.
(Greening America's Schools, 2006)
STAFF RETENTION

Green schools see approximately 74% improvement in the ability to attract and retain teachers.
(Greening America's Schools, 2006)
SAFER FOR STAFF

Sustainable schools that use green cleaning standards are safer for custodial staff and can save schools money. In the US along, custodial chemical injuries cost $25,000 a year in lost time and worker compensation.
(The Public Health Institute)
REDUCE FOOD AND FINANCIAL WASTE

Approximately $1.2 billion of school lunches (a quarter of the total provided) is wasted every year in the US alone. Sustainable schools can save money while reducing waste and related greenhouse gas emissions.
(Cohen et al, 2013)
REDUCE ABSENTEEISM

School environments impact occupant health and wellbeing, and green schools see up to 87% reduction in absenteeism.
(Greening America's Schools, 2006)
COMMUNITY IMAGE

Surveys on executive views on green schools compared with conventional schools found a 72% improved community image.
(Greening America's Schools, 2006)

Planet

MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE

Schools are one of the largest public consumers of energy. The scientific evidence is unequivocal: urgent and significant efforts are needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change - and schools are positioned for catalytic impact.
(IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, 2022)
DIRECT IMPACT

Schools could meet 75% of their electricity needs and reduce the education sector’s carbon footprint by up to 28% by taking advantage of all viable space for solar panels.
(Solar PV as a mitigation strategy for the US education sector, 2019)
INDIRECT IMPACT

Climate Education connects students to climate solutions and has a consequential impact on their daily behaviors and decision-making, reducing their overall carbon footprint.
(Cordero et al, 2020)
CULTIVATING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Sustainable schools offer more opportunities for outdoor and hands-on learning, which will inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.