Approximately 25 percent of Americans go to school or college every day as students, teachers, staff, faculty and administrators.

Across the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) national chapter network, volunteer advocates are leading campaigns to transform local schools, providing their communities with on-the-ground support as local experts and providing a direct link to the programs and initiatives of the Center for Green Schools.

Characteristics of a Green School

• Conserves energy and natural resources
• Saves taxpayer moneyImproves indoor air quality
• Removes toxic materials from places where children learn and play
• Employs daylighting strategies and improves classroom acoustics
• Employs sustainable purchasing and green cleaning practices
• Improves environmental literacy in students
• Decreases the burden on municipal water and wastewater treatment
• Encourages waste management efforts to benefit the local community and region
• Conserves fresh drinking water and helps manage stormwater runoff
• Encourages recycling
• Promotes habitat protection
• Reduces demand on local landfills

The Center for Green Schools was established to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable and healthy places to live, learn, work and play. We believe that everyone, from the kindergartner entering the classroom to the Ph.D. student performing research in a lab, should have the ability to learn in green buildings.

When you look at our schools today, you see outdated buildings in need of repairs, burdened with unsafe toxins, dwindling budgets and outdated resources - in place of opportunity and progress. By promoting the design and construction of green schools, and by greening the operations and maintenance of existing schools, we can make a tremendous impact on student health, school operational costs and the environment.

The Center works directly with teachers, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to create programs, resources and partnerships that transform all schools into healthy learning environments.

High-performing schools result in high-performing students, and green schools go far beyond bricks and mortar. We see an opportunity to educate a new generation of leaders - sustainability natives - capable of driving global market transformation
 
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Green Schools Committees are taking on a variety of initiatives, and as a result are attracting members from across their communities. These volunteers are architects, designers and building engineers, as well as educators, environmental advocates, local business owners and parents.

Individuals can join USGBC Chapters and their Green Schools Committees to raise awareness in their communities; share strategies, resources and best practices; tour green building projects and more. Find the Chapter and Committee near you and join the movement today!  For more information, visit new.usgbc.org/community/chapters and centerforgreenschools.org.