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Question #1: Can you share an example of how
going Green has helped a school?
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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?
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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?
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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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