In SC, Palmetto Green Schools Network Website Launched Dec 16th

Columbia, SC – Healthy learning environments and efficient use of energy translates into happier students and lower operating costs.  The Palmetto Green Schools Network is an effort to support just that.

Ann Timberlake, Executive Director of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund, says the Palmetto Green Schools Network and website focuses on promoting healthier places to learn, from lighting and air quality to water use and waste.  “At the grassroots, we are promoting k-16 education programs under the stewardship of interdisciplinary green teams within schools.  At the grass tops, we are providing collaborative statewide energy sustainability forums and workshops for school operations managers and administrations” said Timberlake.

“Schools use vast amounts of energy to warm, cool, and educate our students at sometimes staggering costs” said Ed Falco, Program Manager for the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund. If just 10% of a school or district’s energy use was reduced, through a grassroots and grass tops approach, the savings to districts could be significant, lead to better learning environments, and provide for student-powered, real world energy and natural resource conservation projects in the process.”

“Stewardship of the Earth is everyone’s business,” added Falco. The website creates a much-needed energy conservation clearinghouse for educators, students, community leaders, and facility managers to use, share, and connect with other like-minded peers. Funding from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, based in Connecticut, is helping create and launch the website. The reasons for developing such a clearinghouse are clear. One out of every five Americans attends some sort of school every day and school is all about learning, doing, and teaching others. Users can choose which “room” they enter for specific information from teacher lesson plans to creating an energy sustainability plan.

Energy and natural resource conservation hot topics, research, vital links, career information, and awareness to action themes will populate the website. Many local and national programs are linked and highlighted to aid users.

Falco said that live news feeds on specific energy and environmental topics will keep things fresh and current. He added that students all over the state are becoming more and more involved in helping shape their environmental and energy future, and there is a need to recognize, support, and connect those efforts through Palmetto Green Schools. 

Visit the website at http://www.palmettogreenschools.com/. People can join the Palmetto Green Schools Network on-line and eventually leave messages and comments to share