With climate change becoming an increasingly urgent issue, it’s more important than ever to prioritize sustainability in all areas of our lives, including education. One of the developments in this regard has been the introduction of green schools or sustainable schools. These buildings focus on minimizing their environmental impact while promoting healthy and safe learning environments.
In this post, we’ll explore how the concept of green schools came about, their benefits, what makes a school ‘green’ and how they keep environment preservation at their centre.
What is a green school?
A green school is an institute that takes into account principles of environmental sustainability in its overall functioning. Right from the curriculum to the physical infrastructure, every aspect of a green school is designed to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve energy and water and create a conducive environment for students and educators.
The learning in a green school is not confined to the classrooms but extends outside to the campus where students engage with nature and learn from first-hand experiences. It allows students to form a bond with nature and foster sensitivity towards environmental issues.
Green Schools: Evolution of the Concept
One of the first events to catalyse the green movement was the Brundtland Report of 1987. This report called for the global community to change its behaviour and adopt more sustainable and responsible ways to preserve Earth’s natural resources for future generations. Following this, leading international environmental organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched a report, Caring for the Earth in 1991. It proposed a new strategy for sustainable living while keeping conservation at its core.
In 1992, Agenda 21 was signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro where the term Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was introduced. As ESD underwent development, it came to include the establishment of schools built with sustainable approaches. This came to be known as the Green School Movement.
Markers of green school
The two most essential characteristics of a green school are its clean, healthy surroundings and its emphasis on the overall health (physical, social, mental) of its students and staff.
Some other traits of a green school include:
- Environmentally conscious campus
- Inclusive infrastructure that facilitates learning for all
- Democratic learning that involves all stakeholders (students, parents, school management)
Green school infrastructure
Green schools play an important role in encouraging sustainability. They are planned taking into account environment and building design factors over the next fifty years. Generally, the buildings incorporate passive design strategies such as using shading devices to prevent overheating, making the maximum use of the sun’s trajectory and using natural ventilation. Such foresight paves the way for an institute that consumes less resources and emits less greenhouse gases.
Green schools are built with non-toxic materials and ensure natural ventilation and lighting. This reduces the risk of health problems associated with toxic paint and building material, poor indoor air quality and also creates a more comfortable environment. When such schools incorporate techniques such as using solar power, water-conserving fixtures and energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, the overall operating costs also reduce.
Importance of a green school
Research has shown that school buildings can have a significant impact on student performance. The environmental factors within and around the school have the potential to affect the health and thinking of students. This link between the condition of school buildings and student success cannot be overlooked.
Green schools, in addition to their environmental benefits, have a positive impact on students. A report by the Harvard School of Public Health highlights how green schools benefit students. These include:
- Greater natural light resulting in increased awareness: According to a 2010 study, when children don’t receive adequate natural light, their melatonin cycles get disrupted. This affects their alertness and consequently their performance in school. Green schools have large windows and skylights to allow light to enter classrooms and learning spaces.
- Improved performance due to increased natural ventilation: When the indoor air quality is good, students are less likely to suffer from problems such as allergies, asthma and mucous membrane irritation.
- Green schools understand the significance of incorporating nature in the educational curriculum. They encourage nature-based play and experiences that engage all the senses of the students. This allows them to connect with their surroundings and develop into conscious citizens.
Sunbeam- The “breathing” school
As a true green school, the Sunbeam International School derives inspiration from nature, whether it is in architecture or its logo and essence. The vast open and green spaces provide a lively environment for our students and staff to give their best. The campus is designed in a way to seamlessly integrate classroom education with nature and play-based learning. It is a perfect blend of modern and natural design with natural light, in-built cooling systems and sustainable use of resources. Our pedagogy reflects today’s unique and global curriculum while also emphasizing the integral part of nature in our lives.
Green schools are and should be the future of school infrastructure. There may be some challenges associated with cost, regulations and operations but their benefits far outweigh these surmountable hurdles. Such schools have proven benefits on the health and performance of students as well as educators. Hence, they have an important role to play in building a sustainable world. A shift towards green schools must be encouraged for a healthy environment.
