Greening Your School

Start a Green Team at Your School

Many DOE Schools have environmental clubs, sustainability committees or green teams with a similar goal of reducing the school’s impact on the environment. If your school has one, join to help make a difference! If your school doesn’t have one, then reach out to your school’s Sustainability Coordinator to start a Green Team at your school. A School Green Team typically includes the principal, sustainability coordinator, teachers, students, custodian engineer, UFT chapter leader, parents and other school community partners that the principal would deem appropriate to include. To get started follow the recommended steps below:

Principal and Sustainability Coordinator can announce the School Green Team Information Meeting to school community
At the information meeting, Sustainability Coordinator and Principal can brief all in attendance about the DOE Sustainability Initiative and ask for those who are interested to sign-up to School Green Team
At the First School Green Team Meeting, the school sustainability goals should be established for energy conservation, recycling, ecology, green curriculum and other environmental subjects that the Green Team would like to tackle for the school year and think of ways to take action and then measure success. For example, teachers can integrate actions towards the school’s sustainability goals into the existing curriculum as supplemental activities such as reading weekly utility meters (where feasible) and turning off lights and appliances when not in use to see how much energy can be saved in a month as part of an energy unit in scope and sequence activity. Schools can request light switch stickers for classrooms and offices by filling out the Light Switch Request Form.
Each school’s environmental impact is different and working together with administration, teaching staff and facilities staff, students can explore ways to make their school greener and take action towards fulfilling school’s sustainability goals for the year!
Download the Sample School Sustainability Plan template to organize your school’s goals and actions.

Get Speakers to Come to Your School

Get speakers to come to your school or your class through Earth Day New York's Speakers Bureau or schedule an ACE Assembly through the Alliance for Climate Education (for high school only).

Audit and Fundraise with Junior Energy

Visit juniorenergy.org to learn more about fundraising options.

Participate in Fitness and Health Activities

Visit the NYC Department of Education's Fitness and Health webpage to keep up with current activities you can participate in.

Organize Bike to School Day or set up Bike Commuter Program for Staff through BikeNY.

Get Recognized by Eco-Schools USA

Eco-Schools USA is an International Green School program run by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States. This comprehensive program provides a seven step framework that can guide schools through school sustainability plans and action items. Once the schools accomplish seven steps, which are mostly included in required School Sustainability Plans, schools can receive recognition at three award levels: Bronze, Silver and Green Flag. Find out more and fill out the registration form here.

	Greening Your School Start a Green Team at Your School Many DOE Schools have environmental clubs, sustainability committees or green teams with a similar goal of reducing the school’s impact on the environment. If your school has one, join to help make a difference! If your school doesn’t have one, then reach out to your school’s Sustainability Coordinator to start a Green Team at your school. A School Green Team typically includes the principal, sustainability coordinator, teachers, students, custodian engineer, UFT chapter leader, parents and other school community partners that the principal would deem appropriate to include. To get started follow the recommended steps below: Principal and Sustainability Coordinator can announce the School Green Team Information Meeting to school community At the information meeting, Sustainability Coordinator and Principal can brief all in attendance about the DOE Sustainability Initiative and ask for those who are interested to sign-up to School Green Team At the First School Green Team Meeting, the school sustainability goals should be established for energy conservation, recycling, ecology, green curriculum and other environmental subjects that the Green Team would like to tackle for the school year and think of ways to take action and then measure success. For example, teachers can integrate actions towards the school’s sustainability goals into the existing curriculum as supplemental activities such as reading weekly utility meters (where feasible) and turning off lights and appliances when not in use to see how much energy can be saved in a month as part of an energy unit in scope and sequence activity. Schools can request light switch stickers for classrooms and offices by filling out the Light Switch Request Form. Each school’s environmental impact is different and working together with administration, teaching staff and facilities staff, students can explore ways to make their school greener and take action towards fulfilling school’s sustainability goals for the year! Download the Sample School Sustainability Plan template to organize your school’s goals and actions. Get Speakers to Come to Your School Get speakers to come to your school or your class through Earth Day New York's Speakers Bureau or schedule an ACE Assembly through the Alliance for Climate Education (for high school only). Audit and Fundraise with Junior Energy Visit juniorenergy.org to learn more about fundraising options. Participate in Fitness and Health Activities Visit the NYC Department of Education's Fitness and Health webpage to keep up with current activities you can participate in. Organize Bike to School Day or set up Bike Commuter Program for Staff through BikeNY. Get Recognized by Eco-Schools USA Eco-Schools USA is an International Green School program run by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States. This comprehensive program provides a seven step framework that can guide schools through school sustainability plans and action items. Once the schools accomplish seven steps, which are mostly included in required School Sustainability Plans, schools can receive recognition at three award levels: Bronze, Silver and Green Flag. Find out more and fill out the registration form here.	Top 5 Things You Can Do