The Green Guide, this year, has enlisted top 10 most environmentally-committed ‘Green Schools’ indicating that environmental improvements are within reach of all schools, public or private.
Here is the top 10 2006 Green Guide.
1st Place: Punahou School (private), Honolulu, HI; score: 77.4
2nd Place: The Willow School (private), Gladstone, NJ; score: 63.4
3rd Place: Desert Edge High School (public), Goodyear, AZ, score 60.1
4th Place: East Clayton Elementary (public), Clayton, NC; Score: 56.6
5th Place: Conserve School (private), Land O’Lakes, WI; Score: 55.9
6th Place: Ross School (private), East Hampton, New York, Score: 55
7th Place: Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center (public), Somerville, MA; Score: 53.5
8th Place (tie): Clackamas High School (public), Clackamas, OR; Score: 50.3
8th Place (tie): Washburn Elementary School (public), Washburn, WI; Score: 50.3
10th Place (tie): One World Montessori (private), San Jose, CA; Score: 49.6
10th Place (tie): Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School (public), Bainbridge Island, Washington; score: 49.6
Let’s see the 10 Criteria on which the listing is based on.
1. Green Building and Construction:
a) Site Location
b) Indoor Air Quality
c) Energy Efficiency
d) Material Selection
e) Waste Management
2. Electricity Supply
3. Food
4. Recycling
5. Procurement Policies
6. Transportation
7. Environmental Curriculum
8. Environmental Contaminants
9. School Green Spaces
10. Environmental Quality
Why not mention the list of great green schools in the U.S., which made efforts to be it the list and successfully did it! So, here the list goes well beyond the top 10. better mention it – Top 20.
12. Bluff Creek Elementary School, Chanhassen, MN; score: 47.9
Prairie restoration program
Local foods served
Eliminating pesticides, integrated pest management indoors and out
13. Southeast Elementary School, Mansfield Center, CT; score: 46.9
Green procurement policies emphasizing recyclability and toxicity reduction
Green curriculum, involved in creating native plant garden
Dedicated waste reduction program including food composting
14. Northside Elementary School, Mechanicsburg, PA; score: 46.6
Local foods served
Organic gardening program
Integrated pest management indoors and out
15. Powell Valley Grade School, Gresham, OR; score: 46.6
Local foods served; no vending machines
Green procurement policies emphasizing life cycle analysis, toxicity, recyclability, energy and water use, Green Seal certification
Native fish rearing and wetlands restoration programs
16. Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco, SF; score: 46.5
Renovated according to LEED principles
Solar panels for renewable energy
Organic and local foods served
17. Goodwillie Environmental School, Ada, MI; score: 44.3
LEED-certified
Geothermal heating and cooling
Students grow wheat and apples to make own bread and cider
18. Friends School of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD; score: 43.9
Green building principles followed
Geothermal heating and cooling
Teaching gardens
19. Westwood Elementary School, Zimmerman, MN; score: 43.9
LEED-certified
School used as a teaching device through student-led tours
Waste reduced by reusing dishes and silverware
20. The Dalles Middle School, The Dalles, OR; score: 40.3
Built according to LEED principles
Local foods served
Geothermal heating and cooling
Congratulation to all the schools – not only the top 10 – but all who could make it for the nomination!
And if you don’t see your kids’ school listed, but believe it’s worthy, please urge the administrators to contact the Green School here — [email protected], and help it participate in next year’s survey.
