Singing a sweet tune of environmental consciousness, the House earmarked $20 billion over the next five years for states to build ‘green schools’ or improve existing ones with environmentally-friendly nips and tucks. As part of the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passed Wednesday, $6.4 billion is approved for the 2009 fiscal year to update public schools to conform to more modern eco-friendly plans.
Green schools will have to meet energy standards set by either Green Star, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System or Collaborative For High Performance Schools.
Green schools use less energy, less water and reduce carbon emissions, not to mention the schools provide better lighting and temperature controls. More than a move to solely promote energy efficiency, green schools are linked to a safer and cleaner learning environment and reduce health risks like asthma and allergies. Certainly, green schools are more economical in the long run and would reduce a district’s school energy costs over time, but does the hefty price tag warrant such a massive change?
The robust $20 billion appropriation has incited a bipartisan tug-of-war (what’s new?) between Democrats, who largely support the legislation, and many Republicans who find issue with federal involvement in “education matters normally under the jurisdiction of states and local governments.” Contenders say the bill “would create an inappropriate and costly new federal role in modernizing and renovating public schools.”
Well, I’ll walk the tightrope on this one and avoid the red and blue tangle of party lines. My color of choice is green.
For the full AP article, click http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkSkVjAAYA16nZI-ZD9TwgeTXzkQD913JNV04
Things as important as the environment are worth the federal government’s time.