Health, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education Opportunities Abound!

School Lighting Upgrades Save Money, Allowing Schools to Make Health and Achievement Promoting Repairs

America’s schools spend more than $8 billion each year on energy – more than is spent on textbooks and computers combined! If your school hasn’t updated its lighting in the past five years, a lighting retrofit could reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting by 30 to 50 percent, and by 10 to 20 percent of energy used for cooling. Cost savings generated by energy efficiency upgrades can be redirected toward health and safety promoting building renovations and the upgrades themselves can have positive health impacts. Read more>> 

EPA Announces School Environmental Health Guidelines for States  

These guidelines recommend six steps states can take to build or enhance a school environmental health program and include a model K-12 school environmental health program.  The Guidelines are among upcoming sessions in the Green Strides Webinar Series:

Oct. 24, 2012, 4-5 p.m.: Investigating the Climate System (NASA) 

Nov. 1, 2012, 3-4 p.m.: Accessing and Using NOAA Data in the Classroom (NOAA) 

Nov. 7, 2012, 2-3 p.m. Integrated School Health Tools for Districts (EPA) 

Nov. 14, 2012, 2-3 p.m. Train Like an Astronaut (NASA) 

Healthy and Sustainable School Food Journalism Awards

 

Together with prize-winning journalist Michael Pollan, the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and Alice Waters of the Edible Schoolyard Project, the Earth Day Network food journalism competition seeks to mobilize a healthy school movement across the nation. Published articles submitted for its competition must focus on the benefits of and best practices that advance the goal of healthy and sustainable school food. For deadlines, cash prizes, and further details >>>

 

Spotlight on a Resource:The Paid-From-Savings Guide to Green Existing Buildings  

This guide describes how to use savings to fund green building retrofits.  Behavioral and operational changes that any school can implement to save, coupled with creative financing strategies, can allow schools to redirect funds once spent on utilities to repair and modernization, thus improving the overall health, safety, and educational adequacy of school buildings. The Guide is a free resource to all educational institutions, one of hundreds listed on our resources page.  

Seven States, DC Named to School Health “Honor Roll” 

 

Seven states and the District of Columbia have been named to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Honor Roll this year. Policies for schools are an annual research project of the AAFA to identify states with the most comprehensive statewide public policies supporting people with asthma and allergies in elementary, middle and high schools.  Read more>> 

U.S. Surgeon General Joins Detroit students for a meal to tout healthful eating 

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin ate lunch, line-danced and took a walk with excited students at Munger Elementary Middle School in Detroit last Friday.  ED worked closely with Detroit Public Schools and HHS to coordinate the Surgeon General’s visit reinforcing the National Prevention Strategy link between healthy eating and fitness and academic success in schools. Read more>>>  

Water: Where Does it Come From? United Nations Painting Competition

The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is organized every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. The theme of the 22nd painting competition will be “Water: The Source of Life” and children will have until 29 February 2013 to submit their entries. More information on the competition >>>.

 

Help Start an Integrated Pest Management Program in Your District

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a prevention-based approach to reduce pest complaints and pesticide use. Asthma impacts nearly 6% of school children nationally, with rates as high as 25% in urban centers. Pests are potent asthma triggers in schools. Try this online IPM cost calculator to help estimate pest risk and IPM costs. For more information >>>