How Can I Make My School Eco Friendly – 11 Sustainability Tips

  • By: greenorb
  • Date: July 19, 2021
  • Time to read: 6 min.

Schools are everywhere. Millions of them. And there are also millions of students from across the world. 

The school authorities have several problems to solve. Unfortunately, the environment was never one.  

The truth is, school authorities’ do not take environmental issues seriously. 

It’s high time teachers, parents, and students understood why maintaining a good physical environment can improve the overall health of their students. 

It’s crucial to know how to make your school environmental- friendly. The following tips will guide you.  

1 Enable Fresh Air

The air quality of most school interiors is bad. And that’s because of the old building structure and inadequate air circulation. 

The indoor air quality lags behind because of poor ventilation.  

1 out of 10 people have respiratory issues like asthma. 

So school authorities need to take immediate action and improve ventilation. 

Put off the Air condition. Open the windows. 

Allow fresh airflow. An eco-friendly campus will not experience general health issues among students such as flu, cold, or any other respiratory conditions. 

Alongside parents and students, you can organize a funding campaign for air quality meter purchase.

These meters monitor the quality of air parameters like CO2 and level of moisture. 

 2. Organize Environmental Cleanups

Take charge of your class’s cleanliness. Organize routine classroom cleanups. Inspire your mates, teachers, or even parents to join in the cleanup sessions. 

All corners, cluttered areas, cupboard areas should be cleaned. Dust and molds should be removed. 

Eliminating dust and mold purifies the air and reduces asthma or other respiratory disease breakout! 

Regular classroom maintenance is one of the most eco-friendly ways you can contribute to the school. 

3. Research And Create Awareness On Green Maintenance

Most cleaning products contain toxic chemicals. Paints, garden chemical fertilizers, and pest control poison release harmful chemicals which impact students’ health negatively. 

These toxins can further move into waterways and may even pollute them. 

Do a little research about cleaning solutions that do not contain toxic chemicals. 

You can search for other effective organic cleaning solutions. 

Replace chemical weed killers with organic ones. 

If you’re handy, you can even make a DIY herbal cleaning solution in school (you’ll need essential oil). 

You’ll be surprised at how eco-friendly your school becomes.  

4. Encourage Green Stationery use

Most students love the typical beautiful stationary. 

But, they’re always plastic-full. While they’re aesthetically pleasing, they also add to the global plastic which we’re trying to reduce in the first place. 

Encourage your peers to use steel rulers instead of plastic rulers. Pen and pencils are also a waste. 

You can go for fountain pens or plantable pencils which are both ink-refillable.  

Create awareness on the need to reduce or even stop the use of foam sheets, glitter paper, thermocol, glitter, or any other recyclable items usable for craft-related projects. 

Bind your textbooks with paper-based sheets or ordinary paper. 

And if you want to decorate the classrooms, cloth Robbins and chart paper are both adorable options. 

These subtle but critical changes can turn your school into an eco-friendly environment.  

School Eco Friendly

 5. Install three waste bins 

A typical school should have triple waste bins. 

But if not, you should nudge the school authority about the need to have three waste bins for recyclable, biodegradable, and hazardous waste. 

Students should be educated on each waste type and what differentiates them. 

The knowledge they acquire should be solid enough to pass on to other people like their parents and neighbors.  

This practice will enable the school to recycle, compost, and dispose of toxic waste responsibly. 

6. Sustainable meal 

A very common rule among US schools is that students must package their food and water in metal containers and not plastic or related material.  

This rule is not difficult for any school to adhere to. Speak with your school authority about it. 

College students residing in hostels can use the refillable bottles for water or use mugs for coffee. 

Furthermore, you can use a cloth backpack to transport reusable plates, mugs, bottles, etc. 

While it may feel awkward at the start, you’ll get used to it over time. Plus you’re encouraging an eco-friendly school.

Million tons of plastic disposable bottles are produced every year, which later gets dumped in the ocean and landfills. 

You can contribute to the reduction in plastic disposable production. Instead of plastic disposables, use sustainable bamboo bottles. 

7. Avoid the use of plastic clean films

Discourage others from using it. 

School canteens should stop the use of plastic films which is a major contributor to waste.  

8. Dedicate special events for local foods 

School canteens should already have their foods sourced locally, right? I’ll suggest organizing a local food event where you can promote local food business. 

This event is an opportunity to educate students on why they should give locally grown food a try. 

They’re known to reduce carbon footprint and are highly nutritious. 

In addition, local farmers need lots of support from local organizations around them. 

Events like this will be fun, enjoyable, learning opportunities, and boost your school’s reputation as an eco-friendly community. 

9. Create A Green Club 

For motivation purposes, set up a green club where like-minded students can discuss green and take proactive steps to improve the school’s environment. 

The club can set up a series of programs like the composting program, recycling programs, or set aside some days for planting trees on the campus, etc. 

All group members can have one or two things to learn about leadership, teamwork, and influencing people’s decisions positively. 

One of the most impactful green decisions is to plant trees or gardens for students to monitor and take care of. 

You can set up small plants in each classroom and take care of the plants with your friends. Easily maintained plants like cactus are a great start.  

10. Promote Eco Friendly Ways To Transport To School 

Work on eco-friendly ways to transport to school. 

Conserve fuel. Reduce emissions. Relate with transportation groups on more efficient ways to get to school. 

If you’re older and live a trackable distance to school, create a walking group. However, keep all safety measures in mind.

11. Reduce paper use 

It’s easier for schools to send emails instead of printing papers. Instead of paper, online tests can save paper. 

A school with an eco-friendly approach will prefer to go as virtual as possible. Students with no computer or laptops can team up with those who have one. 

Or the school can sponsor laptops, tablets, and more. Utilizing technology can turn out to become a wonderful eco-friendly approach. 

12. Utilize LED lights

Apart from being durable, LED lights are considerably more energy efficient than the traditional bulb. 

Although they are a little expensive, you’re getting your investment back with a drastically reduced electricity bill. 

You can also create a funding campaign for a solar power installation. 

If your location is more geared towards wind energy, then you can utilize wind energy generation. 

The goal is to invest in a Greene energy solution that reduces fossil fuel consumption and to enlighten students on why renewable energy sources should become the new normal for sustainable living. 

Summary 

This is the best time for teachers, parents, and students to understand why maintaining a good physical environment can improve the overall health of the student.  

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or student, it’s important to make your school more eco-friendly. 

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