Three Additional Benefits Sustainable Practices For Your Students

There is no doubt sustainable practices in schools impact students.  Because of that, educational facilities are continually looking for ways to improve environmental practices and find affordable resources to do so.  An article in Rachel Hesling’s blog, “6 Ways the USGBC Is Helping to Build Better Schools,” describes how the USGBC created the USGBC Center for Green Schools to offer additional resources that help community partners make schools more environmentally friendly.

Ways To Make Your School More Sustainable

Here are three benefits that stood out:

1. Sustainable design can positively impact the learning environment

As mentioned in an earlier blog I wrote this October, “The Importance of School Facilities in Improving Student Performance,” a school’s environment can have a strong impact on student performance. Studies have shown sustainable design creates a healthy environment where students can thrive.

2. Creating a virtuous cycle of conservation

Not only is it important for students to learn in healthy, green spaces, it is also essential to teach students environmentally-friendly practices to empower them to play an active part in their institution’s sustainability efforts. When students are made aware of the fragility of the environment and natural resources, they are more likely to understand the value of your school’s sustainability mission. These lessons will influence their lives and those of future generations, creating a virtuous cycle of conservation.

3. Energy Efficiency Tips for Schools

Energy efficiency in schools doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Small, everyday changes can significantly reduce energy consumption while promoting sustainability. Here's how:

Practical Energy-Saving Tips for Classrooms:

1. Turn Off Lights and Devices: Always switch off lights, computers, and other electronics at the end of the day to save energy.
2. Retain Heat: Keep classroom doors closed to prevent heat loss. Ensure heaters are unblocked for maximum efficiency.
3. Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances: When purchasing new equipment, prioritize energy-efficient options and check energy consumption ratings. Opt for LED or energy-saving light bulbs for lighting needs.

Create Sustainable Classrooms:

• Improve Insulation: Proper insulation reduces heating and cooling needs, lowering energy use and costs.
• Use Sustainable Materials: For repairs or renovations, select eco-friendly, durable materials to minimize environmental impact.

Teaching Sustainability Beyond the Classroom:

Encouraging students to adopt energy-efficient habits, such as turning off unused electronics or choosing sustainable options, helps extend these values into their homes and communities. By incorporating energy-saving lessons into the curriculum, schools can empower pupils to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

4. Sustainable choices save money by reducing consumption

When schools go green, they cut costs while preserving natural resources, and reducing waste. By reducing waste and consumption, your building will also see a decrease in energy and water costs along with costs associated with waste removal and maintenance. Small sustainable changes really do add up when you consider how many students, faculty and staff use your school building on a daily basis!

One solution that can help your school building achieve these three benefits is replacing paper towels with high speed hand dryers — like the VERDEdri™. VERDEdri is a great fit for schools because it offers customizable sound and air flow features to keep its volume to a minimum, so it won’t disturb classroom performance.

Your school will also benefit from VERDEdri because of the economic and environmental savings it will realize. Switching from paper towels to energy-efficient hand dryers allows your school to conserve energy consumption, cut back on waste and save trees while also teaching students the value of your sustainability mission. As an added bonus, VERDEdri can also help your facility qualify for valuable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits.

If you would like to see how one school utilized World Dryer hand dryers to enhance the learning experience and eliminate the expenses associated with paper towels, check out how we helped Legacy Charter School. With the money Legacy Charter School saved by switching from paper towels to hand dryers, the school was able to allocate more money to personalized learning experiences and support programs that enable all students to be successful.