Schools across the country direct focus towards reducing and reusing

By Staff Writer Taleena Nadkarni

High schools across the nation are increasingly adopting ‘Go Green’ initiatives to cut down on costs and promote a healthier environment, according to a study done by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

According to the study, American schools are promoting an eco-friendly atmosphere by using rainwater to flush toilets, running school buses on bio-diesel, and installing solar panels for electricity.

Unlike most schools in the country that spend approximately $6 billion per year on energy, Indian Prairie School District 204 has saved $1.4 million by improving energy efficiency habits and reducing energy demand when buildings are unoccupied, said the IEPA.

Senior Malvika Ragavendran believes that NNHS still has room for improvement.

“I think that North has been environmentally-friendly through actions such as the active recycling system,” Ragavendran said.  “But I think we could further our green initiatives by getting rid of any use of Styrofoam in our lunch lines, or enforcing double-sided printing if multiple pages need to be printed.”

However, many students and teachers are fairly oblivious of their school environment in regards to energy usage, waste output, water consumption, and air quality.

The US General Accounting Office has found that over 15,000 schools suffer from poor indoor air quality, affecting more than eight million children, or one in five American students, according to IEPA’s study.

The study also states that fresh water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, but water usage in schools can be reduced by approximately thirty percent simply by implementing modest water saving methods.

Such methods include insulating hot water pipes, installing submeters to identify leaks, and fixing leaks as soon as possible. These measures can lead to an immense reduction in a school’s operating expenses, said the IEPA.

The study also found that adopting such environmentally friendly habits can enhance a child’s academic performance.

In a study done by the Capistrano California School District, it was found that using natural daylight as a classroom’s primary source of light increases a student’s attention span and short-term memory while in the school building.

Nevertheless, schools are still considered one of the largest waste generators in most communities, according to the IEPA.

“The environment is definitely not a priority of most students these days,” said Director of Buildings and Grounds in District 203, Steve Mathis.

According to Mathis, students could have a huge impact on their school’s budget expenditures by simply turning off the faucet when they leave the restroom or switching the light off as they leave the classroom.

“Pay attention.” said Mathis. “Anytime that [students] could save [energy or water] would have a huge result.”