Teaching Children About Sustainability in School: Practice What You Preach

When you’re managing a sustainable educational facility, it’s important to impart your wisdom to the occupants and students that grace the halls and classrooms. Sustainability is one of the most important factors in today’s society, as it’s crucial to the overall well-being of our planet and its occupants. But in order to practice what you preach, sustainability education should be implemented early on so students can understand the best practices and benefits.

Learning How to Make Your Building More Sustainable

When you’re managing a facility or school, it’s always a good idea to move forward with steps toward making your facility more sustainable. While you may be thinking that the only way to do that is by taking your recycling program to the next level, you’ll be surprised to know that there are ways where you can make your actual building more sustainable and eco-friendly.

You can start off by switching to green cleaning products that’ll reduce harmful emissions in your air. Another way is by using green LEED building materials when it comes time for renovations and remodeling. There are different materials like eco-friendly windows, recycled flooring, and even solar panels to help reduce the carbon footprint.

You can even change the lockers and bathroom stalls by using the 100% recyclable HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic. This material doesn’t scratch, corrode, or fall victim to unhealthy mold growth. Another major benefit is that it doesn’t delaminate or require a fresh coat of paint. You’ll cut a lot of costs when it comes to maintenance, and you won’t have to repaint them and add unhealthy VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions to your school’s air.

Educating Students About Sustainability

While we’re growing acclimated to a greener lifestyle, we need to educate younger students on the importance of environmentally conscious practices like sustainability. The best ways to approach sustainability education is through hands-on experience. Show your students how to effectively recycle their waste through separating the different materials and even composting the organic waste.

While on the topic of composting, you can work your way toward another sustainable aspect: gardening. Compost goes from our normal food and yard waste and becomes a fertile material that provides exceptional nutrients to growing plants and vegetables. Teach the students that gardening and other agricultural practices benefit the environment and its inhabitants.

Finally, one of the most important steps to teach children about is conservation. Educating them on the benefits of conserving energy and water can be useful. If you implement fun educational methods, students will take the knowledge to heart and apply it to their daily lives. By taking the necessary steps to educate today’s youth about sustainability, you’ll pave the way toward a brighter and greener future for generations.

Was this blog post helpful? Do you want to learn more about how to make your facility more sustainable? Download the eBook, Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom, courtesy of Scranton Products.