Schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses all came out to demonstrate their wares and share their efforts Saturday at the city’s first-ever Green Schools Alliance conference, titled “Visioning the Future.” We were there with our group, NYC Green Schools, and we were impressed by what we learned about initiatives —from vertical gardens to trayless Tuesdays to electronic waste reduction — that are making public and private schools in the city more green.
We were there to promote our Meatless Monday campaign, because, as we wrote last week, animal production for food consumption contributes more to global climate change than all forms of transportation combined.
Here’s a glimpse at what other people are doing to make our schools more sustainable:
SOSnyc.org is responsible for bringing Trayless Tuesdays to all of the city’s public schools earlier this year. Find out how to eliminate Styrofoam trays from your school during the rest of the week.
Wellness in the Schools promotes children’s environmental health and nutrition by introducing green cleaning programs and advocating for healthier school lunches.
Green Living Technologies, an approved Department of Education vendor, is bringing gardens into the classrooms with green roofs, walls, and vertical agriculture. The company is a partner for a new sustainability-themed high school scheduled to open in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx next year.
Seeds in the Middle, a group that began at PS 91 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, inspires parents, educators, and students to green their environment and take control of their health.
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Teachers College of Columbia University has developed a science and nutrition program for grades 4-8. Find out how to bring this program to your school.
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The Green Gremlins of Grace Church School, a private school in Greenwich Village, are spreading the word about reducing energy waste.
Sales of these reusable, recyclable binders go to the charity Getting Tools to City Schools, which provides free school supplies to low-income public schools in the city.
How is your school or your community going green? Add to our list in the comments below.
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