Green Ribbon Schools | Green Ribbon Schools

Project Ideas: Environmentally Friendly Campus

Here is a list of Project Ideas and Resources to help you create and complete your projects.
Scroll over a Project Title for more information.

Alternative Energy Source: Establish alternative energy sources such as: Wind Turbines and Solar Panels.
Use of Fluorescent or LED light bulbs/lights: Switch all lightbulbs to fluorescent and/or LED bulbs.
Student Proposals for Green Energy Design at School: Develop student proposals on structural issues: green roof, sustainable design, etc.
School Energy Audits: Conduct an audit of the energy used at your school this month, for base lines and ongoing analysis
Lights-Off Campaign: Conduct a campaign to ensure that the lights are off when a room is not being used.
Explore Wind Energy
Energy Vampire Audits: Conduct energy vampire audits. Energy Vampires are appliances and lights that are left on when no one is using them. Examples would be computers, TVs, lights.
Energy Conservation Awareness Program: Develop a program to Promote Energy Conservation at your school. Reveal the types of waste that are occuring and offer ways to solve the problem.

Water Conservation Awareness Program: Develop a program to Promote Water Conservation at your school. Reveal the types of waste that are occuring and offer ways to solve the problem.
Student Proposals for Water Recycling Programs: Develop student proposals on water reduction and water recycling campaigns.
School Water Audits: Conduct an audit of the water your school is using each month.
Rain Water Harvesting: Implement rainwater harvesting
Infrastructure Drip Audit: Check the faucets, water fountains, and all other water sources in your school to see if they are leaking or dripping. Ensure that your school fixes these leaks and drips. According to the USEPA, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year.
Calculate Water Footprint: Calculate your school's Water Footprint.

Transportation Carbon Footprint Audit: Conduct a school transportation carbon footprint audit.
Student Proposals on Green Transportation Alternatives: Implement bike to school programs
Implement Safe Routes for Biking and Walking: Encourage the use of buses and walking
Carpooling Program: Establish carpool programs for school events.
Bike To School Program: Implement safe routes to schools for walking and riding bikes

Toxic Chemical Cleaners Reduction Program: Develop a program to reduce and ultimately replace all toxic chemical cleaners with greener and healthier alternatives
Toxic Chemical Cleaners Audit: Conduct audit of toxic cleaning chemical used at your school.
Student Proposals for Pollution Reduction Strategies: Have students develop proposals for actions the school can put in place to reduce pollution.
Operation Styrofoam Free: Establish program to remove Styrofoam from the cafeteria.
Establish NO-IDLE Zone: Establish a "no idle zone" in your school parking lot, where cars must turn off their engines when parked and waiting.
Air Quality Test: Conduct an air quality base line test at your school in several different rooms.

Waste-Free Lunch Days: Conduct a waste-free lunch day once per month
School Recycling Program: Implement a recycling program
Purchase of Recycled Materials: Purchase recycled materials for use in the school.
Paper Use Reduction Program: Reduce the amount of paper used each day at your school.
Operation No Bottled Water: Promote a "use tap water" program instead of bottled water. Encourage people to have a washable bottle that can be refilled every day.
Non-Recyclable Materials Audit: Conduct an audit of the non-recycleable materials used at your school. Non-recycleable materials are items like: Styrofoam, food soiled plates and napkins, and greasy pizza boxes. Then develop ways to reduce use of these items or even replace them with recycleable alternatives.
Great Locker Cleanout Program: Conduct an end of the year "great locker cleanout". Be sure to recycle anything that can be recycled.
Electronics Recycling Program: Establish a recycling program for hazardous electonic waste like: computers, cell phones, and batteries.
Composting Program: Implement composting program.
Charity Reuse Collection Program: Develop recycle/reuse collection day for charity, such as an athletic shoes or old jackets collection.

Water-Wise Landscaping: Plant low water use plants such as native plants, which also attract native wildlife.
Vegetable and Herb Garden: Create vegetable and herb gardens
Outdoor Exploration Area: Create outdoor exploration areas such as ponds, butterfly gardens, or bird observation areas (houses)
Outdoor Classroom: Create an outdoor classroom using natural spaces and places to sit for students to work, read and reflect.
Nature Playscape: Create a nature playscape by bringing natural elements and green spaces into the playground.
Community Garden: Create a community garden
Classroom Plant Life Program: Establish "green inside" by developing a program that gets plants into each classroom to help filter the air
Butterfly Garden: Plant a butterfly garden at the school, local community center, hospital or nursing home for all to enjoy.
Wildlife Habitat Project: Create wildlife habitat on the campus or nearby areas.