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Question #1: Can you share an example of how going Green has
helped a school? |
One of the most dramatic examples is Charles Young Elementary
School, built in Washington, DC, in 1931. This school had
experienced serious environmental problems for decades, affecting
student performance and attendance and making the school an
undesirable place for students, teachers, and administrators. Today,
however, it is one of the city’s most sought after schools in which to
learn and work.
The renaissance at Charles Young Elementary School was
completed in 1997. A presidential directive, called the Urban Schools
Initiative, chose Charles Young for a dramatic revitalization project. It
was hoped that the changes would improve learning and educational
performance and provide a bright future for those attending. Among
the restoration projects undertaken were:
- Lead paint was removed throughout the building.
- Roofs and walls were repaired to prevent water intrusion.
- Leaking ductwork, steam, and water pipes were replaced.
- Hazardous chemicals found in the school were removed.
- More thorough cleaning systems were incorporated, including
the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products.
- Pest-management measures were undertaken.
- Classroom floors were covered with more then 45,000 square
feet of new carpet.
Since the restoration project, Charles Young Elementary School,“radiates a sense of well-being,” writes Dr. Michael Berry, Research
Professor at the University of North Carolina and author of The Built
Environment - Cleaning for Health. “It is widely reported by teachers
and staff that many students are reluctant to leave in the afternoons
because they like the school environment. Teachers and staff,
throughout the school district and in the school, want to remain there
[quite different from the way things were just a few years prior], and
many of the best teachers at the school have elected not to leave.”
Additionally, not only are teachers and students happier, there
appears to be performance benefits as well. Math and reading test
scores have risen approximately 25 percent since the school
restoration project was completed.
Based on environmental data collected two years after the restoration
project, the school is now clean, healthy, and “properly maintained,
exhibiting no signs or traits of an unsanitary environment,” writes Dr.
Berry. He concludes that the Green steps taken to improve the
school have been highly successful in keeping the school building
healthy, nurturing education, and improving the learning experience.
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Question #2: Our schools have seen an increase in the number of
cases of asthma among very young children. We have switched
to Green cleaning chemicals to help alleviate the problem. What
else should we be doing? |
Green cleaning is about more than just chemicals. It also includes
using cleaning tools and equipment that minimize cleaning’s impact
on the environment and more efficiently remove contaminants.
Recent studies have found that dust can trigger asthma attacks, and
this is one more reason to use “Greener” high-filtration vacuum
cleaners as part of a Green cleaning regiment. Research from the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) shows
that bacteria lurking in dust can produce chemicals that trigger
asthma and asthma-related symptoms such as wheezing.
The study indicates that there is a connection between asthma
attacks and the duration of exposure to the dust—the longer the
exposure, the more likely that respiratory problems will develop. Over
time, the dust can affect not only children but all building occupants
including cleaning professionals.
In another study, researchers at the University of Iowa confirmed the
NIEHS’s findings, also reporting there is a strong association
between endotoxin levels and the prevalence of diagnosed asthma,
asthma symptoms, asthma medication use, and wheezing.
Endotoxins are found in the cell wall of bacteria and are released only
when bacteria ruptures or disintegrates. Because bacteria can be
found everywhere in the home, the likelihood of their release is high.
Once released, endotoxins can cause inflammation of the airways
and lead to asthma symptoms.
In recent years, certification programs have been developed that test
the performance of vacuum cleaners as well as how well they collect
and trap contaminants. These programs are run by independent,
third-party organizations, and their designations are honored
throughout the industry. Selecting a certified-Green machine can help
alleviate and minimize respiratory problems in schools and all other
types of facilities.
In addition to using vacuum cleaners that are more efficient, other
ways to help cut down on dust include:
- Ensuring an effective entrance matting program for all
entrances is in place
- Using micro fiber dust mops and cloths
- Consider vacuuming hard surface floors instead of dust
mopping them to minimize the amount of dust that may become
airborne
- Check and change all filters, especially HVAC filters, at a
minimum of 4 to 5 times per year.
While there are still other items that can be done, these initiatives will
deliver significant impact, helping to protect the health of the indoor
environment.
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Question #3: Our school district is concerned whether the costs to go Green will really be worth the investment. Could you provide us with some insight into the costs vs. the returns on the investment? |
A few years back, some Green cleaning chemicals and related products did cost more than conventional products. However, most environmentally preferable products used today are cost-competitive with more traditional products used for the same purpose.
But what is more telling, and should be of greater interest to your school district, is how going Green can actually save your district money.
A recent national study conducted by Greening America’s Schools and sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, and other worthy organizations, found that going Green pays off in various ways – many of which have proven to be totally unexpected.
Some of their key findings reported in the study include the following:
- The financial savings of going Green averages about $70 per square foot, with only a $3 per square foot up-front investment.
- Green schools use 33 percent less energy than conventional schools.
- Green schools reduce Greenhouse gas emissions by almost 600,000 pounds annually.
- Using Green cleaning chemicals can help improve indoor air quality. Using environmentally preferable cleaning products reduced the number of asthma/respiratory-related illnesses by 38.5 percent.
- Student and teacher productivity increased by 15 percent.
- Average daily attendance in the Green schools was up by 15 percent. Because government funds to school districts are often based on school attendance, going Green can result in a significant increase in funding.
- Seventy-five percent of senior school administrators believe Green schools help attract and retain teachers.
In one way or another, each one of these findings confirms that going Green, even if it may cost a bit more upfront, has proven savings. But less expensive costs are not the only advantage. When children are healthier, they have the opportunity to attend school more regularly and are less distracted by allergic reactions and respiratory problems. As a result, children learn more and can become more productive citizens – a long-term benefit for any community. |
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