“Going Green” started off as an idea that many balked at. Before the term was associated with trendsetters across the country and abroad, many chuckled and rolled their eyes at the mere mention of it. I mean really, can just “little old me” really impact this giant world around me? It did seem like a silly concept at the time, and albeit I jumped on the bandwagon, rolling my eyes along with the others. What I didn’t know, was that my predecessors were looking at the big picture, noting that change comes from those who ban together and take a stand as one unit.
“Little old me” was a key piece to that unit.
For the purposes of this post, let’s take the glam out of the term “green”, and focus on the meaning of the term. Being green does not mean that you have to stop showering, read by the light of the moon, or wash your hair with a mud and lemon juice. Being and/or going green is the process of changing one’s lifestyle for the benefit of the environment. My mother-in-law has a popular saying that has stayed with me for many years….
“We have to do our part in sustaining the environment, not just for our future, but for the future of our children”.
Personally, my motivation to “stay” green comes from my children, and often times I go out of my way to do a green act, for them. Every child deserves a safe, healthy environment, free of harmful toxins to live and learn in. Unfortunately many students across the country are learning in unhealthy classrooms with poor lighting and inefficient energy use. In fact, many schools are spending more money on their energy use, than they spend on books and computers. This is where being green can not only make an impact on their future, but an impact on their lives right now.
Benefits of a Green School
-Green schools can lead to improved student performance. When children learn in classrooms with natural daylight, improved sound quality and non-toxic paints, test scores can improve as much as 25%.
– More funds for student resources. When a school is “greened,” water and energy costs can be reduced by as much as 40%. These funds can be channeled back into resources that directly benefit students, such as new textbooks, computers and other essentials.
-Reduced carbon footprint. Greening a school significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming, which affects us all.
Enter to WIN a Green Makeover For Your School
Because children deserve the best chance possible to succeed in school, Pureology has teamed up with Global Green USA to introduce the “Green School Makeover Competition”! YOU can take a step in the right direction by nominating a school in your area for a Green School Makeover, where one grand prize winner and four schools will each receive $2.500 towards their green school renovations! You can also donate to Global Green USA’s Green School Makeover Competition without making a nomination.
How to Apply:
Nominate your school by visiting www.Pureology.com/greenschools. Submit photos and essays illustrating your ideas for the “green” upgrades your school needs. You can also upload a YouTube video by including the video’s url in your application.
I hope you will enter to win a green school makeover for your school, and become a key piece in the path to being green!
Disclaimer: I was asked by L’Oreal Group to share the above information with you. I was compensated for my time in posting. My thoughts and opinions continue to remain my own.
trisha
very cool idea! I am not sure i can go take pics of my daughters school though w/o it looking suspicious?
Jessica Gottlieb
Great idea, but like Trish said, be sure to get permission from the school first.
Tricia @Nightowlmama
great Idea I can’t wait to share it with my childs school thanks