Green Schools Act
HR 58 IH
111th CONGRESS
HR 58 IH
111th CONGRESS
Objective: To promote green schools.
Humans have unknowingly broken away from their natural habitat. In the past century, we have managed to invent technologies that have since shaped the world. While we greatly abuse to our natural habitat for the most profitable outcome, we neglect to notice that our relationships with each other as well as relationships with nature have shattered. It is a great loss. The natural elements and landscapes of our native land are rarely known by name. And what used to be a home is now merely house. Humans have changed the world without right cause. Unfortunately, we have not yet come to the common realization we are connected to the natural world, we share the same planet and rely on it for life. It is our connections with nature and essentially the larger scale of things that brings us back to reality. We have to share this planet with all living creatures. If we do not learn to coexist we are simply aiming ourselves for destruction.
“Ecological design is not reducible to a set of technical skills. It is anchored in the faith that the world is not random but purposeful and stitched together from top to bottom by a common set of rules. It is grounded on a belief that we are part of the larger order of things and that we have an ancient obligation to act harmoniously within those larger patterns. It grows from the fact that we do not live by bread alone and the effort to build a sustainable world must begin by designing one that first nourishes the human spirit.” (Orr, 30)
I chose to do my final paper on the Green Schools Act. This bill is based on the opportunity to promote green construction and improvement to educational facilities.
This includes but is not limited to, grants (up to $10,000 per project) established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aid in promoting green school construction and improvements. The construction methods, systems, technologies, or facility improvements that are to be used are based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. Such initiatives include:
Sustainable site improvements
Water conservation strategies and/or systems
Energy conservation strategies or systems
The use of sustainable materials
Strategies or systems that improve indoor environmental quality
With respect for nature and each other, there is a possibility to build great educational facilities integrating this respect. Teaching our children about the environment through example is an important key to creating an environmentally aware society. With this act, education by example is created by incorporating the use of ecological design in educational facilities. Essentially a new respect for all of creation and a realization of the harmony created between space, humans, and nature will be understood and embedded within the students who learn at the green educational facilities.
Sources:
Orr, D. (2007) The Nature of Design: Ecology, Culture and Human Intention
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c111PPDN7Q::
Water conservation strategies and/or systems
Energy conservation strategies or systems
The use of sustainable materials
Strategies or systems that improve indoor environmental quality
With respect for nature and each other, there is a possibility to build great educational facilities integrating this respect. Teaching our children about the environment through example is an important key to creating an environmentally aware society. With this act, education by example is created by incorporating the use of ecological design in educational facilities. Essentially a new respect for all of creation and a realization of the harmony created between space, humans, and nature will be understood and embedded within the students who learn at the green educational facilities.
Sources:
Orr, D. (2007) The Nature of Design: Ecology, Culture and Human Intention
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c111PPDN7Q::
I find this topic to be quite interesting after last week’s reading about environmental justice. Some of the articles I read mentioned schools being built on top of previous waste sites and causing all types of environmental and public health hazards. We also hear about the local schools in Arizona where carbon dioxide levels are above normal, but neglected due to limited capital improvement funding. Clearly there is a need for the current bill being proposed, as long as the necessary funding is actually appropriated.
ReplyDeleteChristen,
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it will be an excellent topic to write on. To improve educational faciilties and ensure that they are more environmentally friendly is very important. I also agree with your statement of making sure that we lead by example; children may learn to develop a new respect for their envionrment by the efforts that are currently being put forth to develop this project.
Good paper choice.
-Christiana
Christen,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the stance you took in your first paragraph. Most of the world is selfish and are unconcerned with the future on the environement. Putting money in green educational facilities will be great way to teach people (especially young people) about the importance of the environment. If children can learn early on in their lives that the environment is something to be respected and taken care of, then there is a greater possibility that they will grow up to value the environment.
Ryan K.
This sounds like a great topic! I am researching the Green-Collar Youth Jobs, Education, and Training Stimulus Act, which is aimed at giving youth skills in green industries including construction. It seems like it would be a good overlap if some of the youth who receive training could use their skills to improve schools at the same time. I will be interested to find out more as this project progresses!
ReplyDelete