How to Start a Green Initiative at School

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Make the planet cleaner and healthier starting with your own school. With the help of classmates and teachers, you can develop a program that can serve as a model for other schools.

Step 1: Research ways to be green
Go to your library or use the internet to learn how your school can become green. Get ideas by reading about what other schools have done.

Tip
Use the summer to do research and to develop a plan for starting a green initiative.

Step 2: Talk with your principal
Set up a meeting with your principal to talk about your goal and to show them your plan and the information you gathered.

Step 3: Build a team to work on this project
Build a team to work on the project with you. Talk to classmates and teachers to see who is interested and willing to help.

Tip
Ask your teachers to incorporate environmental issues in their lesson plans.

Step 4: Conduct an environmental audit of your school
Work with your principal and the members of your team to conduct an environmental audit of your school. Look for all the ways that your school can reduce waste and recycle.

Step 5: Make an action plan
Create an action plan that reports on the results of your audit and provides "green" solutions. Show the plan to your principal and suggest that it be distributed throughout the school.

Step 6: Organize a school-wide event
Organize a school-wide event to share the results of your plan, focusing on how everyone can do their part to protect the Earth's environment at school and at home.

Tip
Schedule the event on April 22nd so you can celebrate Earth Day. Include information booths, speakers, and games that teach people ways to make their world a cleaner place.

Step 7: Follow through on your action plan
Follow through on your action plan, starting with the smaller projects. Through everyone's commitment and hard work, your school's green initiative will eventually grow throughout your community.

Did You Know?
The annual energy bill to operate America’s primary and secondary schools totals nearly $8 billion -- more than is spent on textbooks and computers combined.