Introduction to Tree-Plenish
/resource/introduction-tree-plenish
Tree-Plenish

Tree-Plenish is a non-profit that helps schools host community tree-planting events to offset their school's energy consumption. Tree-Plenish supports schools every step of the event hosting process from picking the right species all the way to setting up on the day of the event. Tree-Plenish orders and ships the saplings, creates a custom website for each school's event, and provides mentorship support. The event comes at no cost to the school.

Highlights from the 2022 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2022-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2021 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2021-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2020 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2020-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2020 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Highlights from the 2019 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2019-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2019 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Highlights from the 2018 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2018-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2017 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2017-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2016 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2016-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2016 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Highlights from the 2015 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2015-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

Learn from past ED-GRS honorees.  Then apply to your state education authorities for their nomination to ED today!

Highlights from the 2014 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2014-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2013 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2013-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the First-Ever Honorees
/resource/highlights-first-ever-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

Learn from past ED-GRS honorees.  Then apply to your state education authorities for their nomination to ED today!

Mapping the Landscape of K–12 Climate Change Education Policy in the U.S.
/resource/mapping-landscape-k-12-climate-change-education-policy-us
MECCE, NAAEE

This report underscores the importance of using a whole-institution approach to including climate change in education policy.

ASHRAE Guidance to Improve Air Quality in Schools
/resource/ashrae-guidance-improve-air-quality-schools
ASHRAE

This design guide should be used to prioritize decisions related to Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system design and operation for both existing facilities (commissioning, maintenance, improvement, and retrofit projects) and new facilities in order to improve indoor air quality while limiting energy consumption.

Decarbonization Roadmap Guide for School Decision Makers
/resource/decarbonization-roadmap-guide-school-decision-makers
New Buildings Institute

The Decarbonization Roadmap Guide is written for those interested in healthy, efficient, carbon neutral school design, construction and operation. It outlines achievable goals that result in healthy, affordable, all-electric facilities, and explains common actions taken by leading districts to operationalize their carbon neutral ambitions.

EPA’s Healthy Schools Checklist
/resource/epa%E2%80%99s-healthy-schools-checklist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA has created this voluntary assessment to help you reduce and prevent exposures to common environmental health hazards in your school. This fillable PDF was adapted from the quick assessment in the brochure Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments. For more information, go to EPA's Healthy Schools website.

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments
/resource/sensible-steps-healthier-school-environments
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This brochure is designed to address some of the most common areas of environmental health concerns found in schools. It also provides one-stop access to learn some facts about these issues and the many existing low cost or no cost, affordable measures, programs and resources available to help prevent, reduce and resolve each of the highlighted environmental hazards. By completing the voluntary Quick Assessment activity provided near the end of this brochure, schools can determine which areas and programs will require more detailed attention. Additionally, by implementing the waste reduction and energy efficiency actions highlighted, schools can conserve valuable, financial resources.

Healthy School Environments
/resource/healthy-school-environments
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Healthy school environments can affect the attendance, concentration and performance of both students and educators. This website presents information on key topics about establishing and enhancing healthy school environments.

Managing Asthma in the School Environment: A guide for school staff on asthma triggers.
/resource/managing-asthma-school-environment-guide-school-staff-asthma-triggers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This guide offers valuable information for all school staff, especially school nurses, teachers and maintenance staff, on how to identify and control common environmental factors in schools that trigger asthma episodes.

Healthy Indoor Environments in Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
/resource/healthy-indoor-environments-schools-during-covid-19-pandemic-and-beyond
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This page contains links to resources and guidance from federal agencies about indoor air considerations for schools during COVID-19 and for school reopening, as well as Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools resources to help create, maintain, and improve healthy learning environments beyond the pandemic.

Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools
/resource/creating-healthy-indoor-air-quality-schools
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Promote a healthy learning environment at your school to reduce absenteeism, improve test scores and enhance student and staff productivity.

Best Practices for Reducing Near-Road Pollution Exposure at Schools
/resource/best-practices-reducing-near-road-pollution-exposure-schools
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created this document to help existing and planned school communities identify strategies for reducing traffic-related pollution exposure at schools located downwind from heavily traveled roadways (such as highways), along corridors with significant truck traffic, or near other sources of significant particulate air pollution sources.  The publication has been updated from a previously released version in 2015.  New sections have been added including air quality monitoring with sensors due to the rapid increase in use and interest on this topic.

Reducing Diesel Emissions from School Buses
/resource/reducing-diesel-emissions-school-buses
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

"EPA offers funding, as appropriated annually by Congress, for projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines. EPA also provides information on strategies for reducing emissions from older school buses. One of the easiest ways to reduce school bus emissions and save money is to reduce idling. Another effective method is to replace the oldest school buses in the fleet."

Information about PCBs in Building Materials for School Administrators, Building Owners and Managers
/resource/information-about-pcbs-building-materials-school-administrators-building-owners-and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA is concerned that there is potential widespread use of PCB-containing building materials in schools and other buildings constructed or renovated between about 1950 and 1979. This page provides the Agency’s updated guidance for school administrators and building owners, including information about managing PCBs in building materials to help minimize possible exposures to building occupants.

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Curriculum for Early Care and Education
/resource/green-cleaning-sanitizing-and-disinfecting-curriculum-early-care-and-education
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Toolkit provides guidance and information to early care and education (ECE) programs so they can better maintain their facilities while also reducing infectious disease.

Toolkit for Safe Chemical Management in K-12 Schools
/resource/toolkit-safe-chemical-management-k-12-schools
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA's web-based tool kit helps schools start chemical management programs that will improve their chemical management practices by: removing inappropriate, outdated, unknown and unnecessary chemicals from schools; preventing future chemical mismanagement issues in schools through training, curriculum and policy change, and long-term management solutions; and raising awareness of chemical issues in schools and promoting sustainable solutions.

Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead
/resource/protect-your-family-sources-lead
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This EPA webpage provides information on how to protect your family from sources of lead, including throughout a child's environment from playgrounds and older homes to drinking water and household products.