Washington, D.C. – Dozens of architects, PTA presidents, school board members, school superintendents and others from across the country are ready to begin a grassroots effort to further the vision of green schools for every child within a generation.

Some 64 “Green School Advocates” from U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) chapters nationwide were in Washington, D.C., last week to receive training to go back to their communities and organize green school committees. Local Chapter “Green Schools Advocacy Committees” will work with decision-makers, parents, teachers and others who are passionate about contributing toward mitigating climate change and improving our environment.

“The local USGBC chapters are a critical component in the council’s vision of green schools for every child within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC’s president, CEO, and founding chair. “There are now chapter members from across America who are engaging in local outreach and education.”

A 2006 study sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, the Federation of American Scientists and USGBC found that building green would save an average school $100,000 each year in energy costs along – enough to hire two new additional full-time teacher, purchase 5,000 new textbooks, or buy 500 new computers.

Green schools are reputed to have a superior indoor environment, with clean, fresh air, free of dangerous chemicals from everyday products like carpets, paints and cleaning materials. They make use of as much natural daylight as possible, maximizing students’ ability to concentrate and stay physically and emotionally healthy while at the same time dramatically reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. On average, green schools use 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than conventional schools, which would bring the U.S. closer to reducing reliance on imported energy.

Green schools’ better lighting, temperature control, ventilation and indoor air quality reportedly contribute to reduced asthma, colds, flu and absenteeism, helping improve learning, test scores and lifetime student earnings. Greening all school construction would also create more than 2,000 new jobs each year from increased use of energy-efficient technologies. And green schools can improve teacher retention.

The new Green School Advocates left Washington this week equipped with the knowledge and information they need to spread the word about green schools. They are more familiar with the USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Schools green rating system.

Visit www.usgbc.org/chapters for more information.