Clean and Green: Reducing schools’ carbon footprints
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Lowering the amount of carbon dioxide your school emits is an important way to fight climate change. The amount of CO2 a school emits is called its “carbon footprint.” Replacing the filter on a heating and cooling system (HVAC) can reduce a school’s carbon footprint. So can letting the sun do its work and turning off lights when there is enough daylight that artificial light is not needed.
These and other ideas for energy management are on the Division of School Facilities’ website called DSF Green.The site also advises schools to set computers and other office equipment to save energy, such as sleeping when idle. Not to mention the energy savings from shutting off equipment like escalators and electric pool heaters when not needed.
Parents can help schools save energy by asking whether energy saving policies are in place, and by pointing out resources, such as DSF Green, where facilities managers can make sure best practices are being followed.
Some of the best learning opportunities come when kids are involved. What if, when learning about electricity, kids got to take a “field trip” around their school building with the custodian to see where energy is used and how it is, or can be, conserved? Students and the entire school community will get a chance to compete to reduce their carbon footprints in a contest this winter called the Green Cup Challenge. More on that in a later post. In the meantime, let us know what steps your school is taking to reduce its carbon footprints.
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I guess the DSF in under the impression that most schools want to reduce their carbon footprint. This is not the case in Queens. PS 162Q leaves most of its lights on all night long. They have also installed floodlights on the school roof which are visible for 4 blocks and bright security lights around every door even though there are plenty of street lights. There is no security reason for these lights and in fact the lights are so bright they light up the neighboring park and attract kids to hang out all night long even though the park is closed. I doubt this school believes in conserving anything and doubt any best practices are being followed at all.
Comment by parent — October 8, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
On October 24th, PS 166 will host its first green fundraiser - the Big Green Halloween. Aside from the regular old-fashioned fun like games and rides, a cake walk, Haunted House, and great food and entertainment, Big Green Halloween will also feature composting demos by the Lower East Side Ecology Center, a PS 166 Eco Store that will sell stainless steel water bottles and canvas bags, decorating activities using recycled and/or reusable materials, eco-friendly crafts courtesy of The Rubin Museum of Art, textile recycling, compost bins for food scraps, and green information booths by Transportation Alternatives, Council on the Environment of New York City, Urban Organic, Eco-Plum, and 350.org.
PS 166 is the first Manhattan school to partner with 350.org - an international organization working to halt climate change (see http://www.350.org/node/8205). 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide - measured in parts per million - in our atmosphere, and “the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change,” according to 350.org’s website. On October 24th, 350.org is launching its International Day of Climate Action, to raise awareness about the need for an international climate treaty to reach 350. For the Day of Climate Action, children attending the Big Green Halloween will color a “350 banner” and a photo of the finished product will be streamed live to the massive jumbotron in Times Square - along with hundreds of photos from 350 events across the country. Attendees will be encouraged to bring their own cup or bottle to get a free drink at the beverage station!
People can learn about the other green things PS 166 is doing on its new green website page at http://www.ps166.org/site_res_view_template.aspx?id=c69c691d-bcb9-4444-a43e-fcb6484285ce.
For more information about the Big Green Halloween, contact event chair Mason Wood at 917-922-1952 or publicity chair Emily Fano at 917-301-8830.
Comment by Emily Fano — October 21, 2009 @ 11:19 am
Yeah, this is kind of a bit silly. SO, if I got it right, the DOE is going green, but parents need to make suggestions? I guess that does have its place, but where are the principals, custodians, and some person from the dept mentioned going around to the schools advising them?
Comment by Greg Co — October 21, 2009 @ 11:50 am