Georgia Educators Explore Green Schools at U.S. Green Building Council - Georgia Chapter’s High Performance, Healthy Schools Summit Nov. 3-4
At the High Performance, Healthy Schools Summit representatives from over 25 school districts, private schools and higher education institutions will learn about green schools through workshops on energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, recycling and waste management, and environmental integrated curriculum. Top Georgia companies committed to sustainability and education have partnered with the USGBC-GA to sponsor the event and provide scholarships for schools.
Atlanta, GA, October 28, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The U.S. Green Building Council - Georgia Chapter (USGBC-GA) will host the first High Performance, Healthy Schools Regional Summit November 3-4 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Bringing together up to 250 school leaders, teachers, and green building industry professionals, this event will offer presentations, panel discussions and educational workshops with local and national leaders in the green schools movement, including Director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools Rachel Gutter, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and Captain Planet Foundation chairperson Laura Turner Seydel.
“Green schools offer clear financial, learning, and health benefits to communities and students,” says USGBC-GA Executive Director Leesa Carter. “We are committed to helping Georgia achieve these benefits.” The USGBC-GA’s High Performance, Health Schools program provides free consulting services to Georgia school systems and private schools to support their efforts to implement sustainability programs to improve energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, recycling programs, green cleaning, and environmental integrated curriculum.
The movement for green schools is gaining momentum in the United States. The U.S. Department of Education’s new Green Ribbon Schools competition, launched in September 2011, confirms this growing trend. The Green Ribbon Schools competition encourages healthy and sustainable environments and environmental literacy among students. The USGBC’s Center for Green Schools, an early supporter of the Green Ribbon Program, envisions green schools for everyone within a generation.
Currently there are over 3,000 LEED certified and registered schools in the nation, including nearly 80 schools in Georgia. In addition, there are over 200 schools in Georgia who have achieved Energy Star Certification. “Georgia is making great progress in creating green schools,” says Carter, “and our public and private sector partners are helping to make this happen. With support from programs such as the Lt. Governor’s Healthy Kids Georgia, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Forever Green, and The Clean Air Campaign’s Clean Air Schools, we are confident that the green schools message will reach all of Georgia.”
The High Performance, Health Schools Regional Summit will offer Thursday workshops on energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, recycling and waste management, and environmental integrated curriculum. On Friday, the Energy Services Coalition will offer a full-day workshop to examine how Energy Savings Performance Contracting can provide K-12 schools with the Paid-For-By-Savings financing tool they need to make efficiency improvements immediately. Sponsors for the event include Linc Energy & Building Solutions, Reed Construction Data, Georgia Power, AGL Energy Services, CRG, and the Georgia Recycling Coalition. School scholarships are sponsored by Trane, Thomas & Hutton, NORESCO, Southface, Sustainable Options, Evergreen Construction, and Perkins + Will.
Principals, facility directors and teachers from over 25 school districts, private schools, and higher education institutions have already signed up for the event. “The Summit will facilitate knowledge transfer across the region,” says Carter. “It also creates an opportunity to recognize leading green K-12 schools and higher education institutions through the High Performance, Healthy Schools Leadership Awards being held during the Thursday, November 3rd Awards Luncheon.” For more information visit http://www.usgbcga.org/green-schools/regional-school-summit.
About The U.S. Green Building Council
For the past decade, U.S. Green Building Council-Georgia Chapter has been advancing and promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction and operation of Georgia's buildings, landscapes, cities and communities. USGBC-GA members work to influence public policy and educate business leaders and school systems on the economics of green buildings. Additionally USGBC-GA sponsors special projects and provides resources to members including monthly educational meetings, green building tours, networking events, a monthly newsletter, and a robust network of green building professionals. USGBC-Georgia governs five active Branches in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Savannah and is actively working with other Georgia Communities to grow the Branch network around the state. For more information, please visit www.usgbcga.org.
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“Green schools offer clear financial, learning, and health benefits to communities and students,” says USGBC-GA Executive Director Leesa Carter. “We are committed to helping Georgia achieve these benefits.” The USGBC-GA’s High Performance, Health Schools program provides free consulting services to Georgia school systems and private schools to support their efforts to implement sustainability programs to improve energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, recycling programs, green cleaning, and environmental integrated curriculum.
The movement for green schools is gaining momentum in the United States. The U.S. Department of Education’s new Green Ribbon Schools competition, launched in September 2011, confirms this growing trend. The Green Ribbon Schools competition encourages healthy and sustainable environments and environmental literacy among students. The USGBC’s Center for Green Schools, an early supporter of the Green Ribbon Program, envisions green schools for everyone within a generation.
Currently there are over 3,000 LEED certified and registered schools in the nation, including nearly 80 schools in Georgia. In addition, there are over 200 schools in Georgia who have achieved Energy Star Certification. “Georgia is making great progress in creating green schools,” says Carter, “and our public and private sector partners are helping to make this happen. With support from programs such as the Lt. Governor’s Healthy Kids Georgia, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Forever Green, and The Clean Air Campaign’s Clean Air Schools, we are confident that the green schools message will reach all of Georgia.”
The High Performance, Health Schools Regional Summit will offer Thursday workshops on energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, recycling and waste management, and environmental integrated curriculum. On Friday, the Energy Services Coalition will offer a full-day workshop to examine how Energy Savings Performance Contracting can provide K-12 schools with the Paid-For-By-Savings financing tool they need to make efficiency improvements immediately. Sponsors for the event include Linc Energy & Building Solutions, Reed Construction Data, Georgia Power, AGL Energy Services, CRG, and the Georgia Recycling Coalition. School scholarships are sponsored by Trane, Thomas & Hutton, NORESCO, Southface, Sustainable Options, Evergreen Construction, and Perkins + Will.
Principals, facility directors and teachers from over 25 school districts, private schools, and higher education institutions have already signed up for the event. “The Summit will facilitate knowledge transfer across the region,” says Carter. “It also creates an opportunity to recognize leading green K-12 schools and higher education institutions through the High Performance, Healthy Schools Leadership Awards being held during the Thursday, November 3rd Awards Luncheon.” For more information visit http://www.usgbcga.org/green-schools/regional-school-summit.
About The U.S. Green Building Council
For the past decade, U.S. Green Building Council-Georgia Chapter has been advancing and promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction and operation of Georgia's buildings, landscapes, cities and communities. USGBC-GA members work to influence public policy and educate business leaders and school systems on the economics of green buildings. Additionally USGBC-GA sponsors special projects and provides resources to members including monthly educational meetings, green building tours, networking events, a monthly newsletter, and a robust network of green building professionals. USGBC-Georgia governs five active Branches in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Savannah and is actively working with other Georgia Communities to grow the Branch network around the state. For more information, please visit www.usgbcga.org.
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Contact
U.S. Green Building Council - Georgia Chapter
Leesa Carter
404.431.5213
usgbcga.org
Leesa Carter
404.431.5213
usgbcga.org
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