House Approves $20 Billion to Help Schools Go Green
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY 
on 06.18.08
The House recently committed more than $20 billion over the next five years to help states build and renovate schools to make them more energy-efficient and good for the environment.
Of course the fine environmental stewards occupying the White House immediately threatened a veto, saying it was wrong for the federal government to launch any costly new school building program, despite the fact that it will help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by making schools more energy efficient.
And to that end Democrats said the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act would save school districts billions in energy costs while reducing asthma and other environmentally linked health problems.
The legislation passed 250-164 and now must be considered by the Senate.
Communities, Environment, Students Benefit from Green Schools
It should be interesting to see if this bill will make it through. Especially as supporters cite studies that green schools use 35% less energy than a conventional school, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40%, uses 30% less water and has better control over elements of the learning environment that influence student achievement such as temperature and lighting.
Perhaps a call to your Senator is in order?
More on Building Green Schools
School Joins Frontlines of Energy Efficiency with Absorption Chiller
Economic Crunch Hits Schools Efforts to Go Green
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There is no reason why money needs to get in the way of energy efficiency. We as a nation should have been forecasting the increased energy costs years ago, think if the latest housing boom was at the frontlines of alternative energy building, we would be trend setters. Now, we are behind and having to play catch up.
This is great news, and I think that students in these schools could be very positively affected by these changes. However, my sister spent the last year teaching in a LEED certified school building, and it doesn't do much for awareness and education if the teachers don't know WHY green buildings are better and are able to spread the knowledge to their students!
I'd also love to see more money going toward revamping curriculum for this era of climate change and environmental deterioration. Federal funds should provide opportunity and incentives for schools to embark on green initiatives!
Perhaps I don't want the federal government paying for projects like this?