Berkeley school becomes certified as a green business while teaching students how to be good stewards
August 12, 2005
A model institution with a strong environmental compass
Berkwood Hedge School, an independent elementary school for nearly 100 students located in Berkeley, California, recently became the first school in Alameda County to earn certification as a Green Business. From purchasing decisions through energy-saving actions and transportation policies to its educational curriculum, the school is raising the bar as an institutional model for environmental awareness.
"As a school, our focus is on sustainability-understanding our impact on the environment and setting an example through our curriculum, global thinking and ethical decision-making, and our purchasing decisions," states Director Jane Friedman. For the Berkwood Hedge School, being green is a pervasive and all-encompassing effort, with participation and buy-in from staff, parents, students and the school's board of directors.
Educating students through age-appropriate lessons and projects is a big part of the school's environmental efforts. Says Friedman, "We want them to know what it means to be a good steward of the environment, and show that it's something everyone can do."
All students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, are actively involved in the school's efforts. Last year, first graders helped with recycling, taking it on themselves to develop posters, improve labeling and suggest better locations for recycling containers. Third and fourth graders learned about water pollution and what drains into the Bay.
To kick off the school's "zero waste" lunch program, every student participated in a weekly trash-weighing project for lunch waste. The goal? To show how much trash is produced and talk about ways to eliminate it.
This waste-free lunch initiative is one of several projects the school's Green Team of parents and staff will tackle this upcoming school year-by producing a pamphlet for everyone who packs lunches. Guiding the school toward sustainability, the team's efforts will also include further developing the school garden and worm composting program, sharing environmental information and resources through a "Green Page" section in the Tuesday Note weekly school bulletin, and systematically reviewing all school supplies.
Many purchasing decisions at the school have already been made with environmental impact in mind:
- Building furnishings-Using low-emission carpeting, concrete and an environmentally preferred Marmoleum (instead of vinyl flooring which can generate toxins in the manufacturing process).
- Energy and water saving fixtures-Placing "on demand" water heaters next to classroom sinks, using water-conserving toilets and faucets, and maximizing natural light through strategically-placed windows and skylights.
- Maintenance supplies-Reviewing products and using less-toxic cleaning alternatives such as citrus-based soaps, and trapping for pest control.
- Classroom supplies-Eliminating aerosol spray fixatives and other art supplies with worrisome ingredients.
- Organic food-Buying fruits and vegetables for after-school and special event snacks from Full Belly Farms, a local organic grower.
The Berkwood Hedge School has implemented a "good neighbor policy" to lessen the impact of school traffic and vehicle emissions in the neighborhood, encouraging public transportation, carpools, walking and biking for student pick ups and drop offs.
For the school, recycling involves several expected and also innovative ways, such as reusing trash in art projects, collecting green and food waste for compost in the garden, and purchasing school and classroom banners made from recycled cloth from an organization in Southern India.
"Through certification, we've learned there are so many ways to make a difference that aren't really that complicated," comments Principal Jane Friedman. "It helped us take a look at what we're doing and notice what else we could be doing."
The Berkwood Hedge School joins the ranks of more than 180 Alameda County Green Businesses and over 500 companies certified to be "green" in the Bay Area. A model institution with a strong environmental compass, the Berkwood Hedge School is the first Alameda County school to become certified.
Started in 1996, the Alameda County Green Business Program is a partnership among businesses, the government and the public that certifies businesses based on their environmental performance and practices. Technical assistance and certification services are available at no charge to participants. For more information on certification or a directory of Green Businesses, contact Pamela Evans at 510.567.6770 or visit www.greenbiz.ca.gov