What Does It Mean to “Go
Green”?
It’s not enough to prepare our
children for the future…
We must prepare the future for
our children.

I learned to be “green” in the Navy
If you can teach a sailor to recycle,
surely you can teach a child
…and a parent.

Who Should Be Involved in Environmental
Education?
Students of
All Ages
Educators Parents
Green
Businesses
It’s an “All Hands” Operation

Maybe Curriculum Isn’t the Only Way…
A
“Go Green”
Kid
Good
Role
Models
Daily
Practice Measure
Success

The Go Green
Initiative operates
in 1,293 cities in all
50 U.S. states and
39 countries
worldwide

What Makes the GGI so Popular?
Recognize…
• Achievements of GGI Schools, Organizations,
Sponsors & Partners
Offer…
• Free Training Sessions for All Ages on ‘Going Green’
I nspire…
• Teamwork Among All GGI Participants & Affiliates
…and it’s FREE to all schools!!!

Is the environment better off because of the Go Green
Initiative?

Since 2005, GGI schools have kept over
10 million lbs. of recyclables out of
landfills, which conserved the
following:
27 million gallons of water
3,836 metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions
67 billion BTU’s of energy
14,104 cubic yards of
landfill space
34,500 barrels of oil

What is the
Function of
American
Public
Schools?

How Will “Going Green” Benefit
My School District?
· Save money on utility bills by
saving energy and water
· Save money on waste hauling
bills by pulling out recyclable
material
· Save money on purchasing by
encouraging a culture of
conservation and no waste
· Generate revenue by profit
sharing with recycling brokers

How Will “Going Green” Benefit
My Students?
· They will learn how to properly
manage natural resources from
their adult role models
· They will learn a core
competency for the 21st century –
how individual actions affect the
environment for everyone
· They will benefit from all the
natural resources saved, and the
reduction of pollutants in the air
around their community

How will “Going Green” Benefit
the Community?
· More people = fewer natural
resources
· Schools are a significant source of
waste generation in most
communities
· Schools can have a long-term
impact
· Schools act as a catalyst for the
rest of the community

Go Green in the Short Term
· Communicate “Why” to All
Stakeholders
· Recycle
· Set up a profit sharing
agreement w/ hauler or
broker
· Ensure student participation
through student benefit, i.e.
let the profit from recycling
go to student activities
· Measure and publicize
environmental impact
· Reduce energy usage

Go Green in the Long Term
· Create a culture of conservation
· Reduce the amount of
consumption and waste
· Create a healthy environment on
campus
· Protect indoor & outdoor air
quality on campus
· Consider locally grown food
for cafeteria
· Compost food scraps
· Utilize renewable energy

How am I supposed to pay for
this?
•Profit sharing from recycling
•Cost avoidance from lower utility & waste hauling bills
•Grants, Sponsors, and Eco-friendly fundraisers
•***The Go Green Initiative is free to schools***

· Recycling
· Start with your waste hauler - Appendix A of Planning Guide
· List of local recycling brokers – Google “recycling brokers for (fill in the name of your area)”
· Energy efficiency and conservation
· Local utility
· Solar financing
· Curriculum/General Education
· EPA & DOE – your tax $$ at work
· U.S. EPA’s portal for students and educators: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/students.htm; the U.S.
Dept of Energy site for teachers: http://www.energy.gov/foreducators.htm; thee The U.S. Dept of
Energy site for students: http://www.energy.gov/forstudentsandkids.htm; and the National
Environmental Education Foundation site: http://www.neefusa.org/programs/index.htm
· Partner organizations
· PTA
· Local NRC affiliates
Resources to Help You