GSP

What is the Green Schools Program?

A green school program is an initiative that aims to make schools more environmentally friendly and sustainable. There are different types of green school programs, but they usually involve some or all of the following aspects:

• Reducing the school’s ecological footprint by using renewable energy, saving water, minimizing waste, and promoting green transportation.
• Improving the health and well-being of the students and staff by creating a clean and comfortable learning environment, serving nutritious food, and encouraging physical activity.
• Enhancing the environmental and sustainability literacy of the school community by integrating education for sustainable development (ESD) into the curriculum, fostering a culture of environmental awareness and action, and engaging in community partnerships.

Some examples of green school programs are:

• Green Schools Programme by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in India, which conducts an annual environmental audit of schools and awards them with green ratings based on their performance.
• Greening every school by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which supports schools to take a whole-of-institution approach to ESD, in particular by addressing climate change through their teaching, facilities and operations, school governance and community partnerships.

You can learn more about what makes a green school by visiting this link. I hope this helps you understand the concept of a green school program.
Green Schools Programme

What are some benefits of green schools?

Green schools are schools that are designed, built, and operated in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Some of the benefits of green schools are:

• They can enhance the learning and teaching experience by providing a healthy and comfortable environment, using smart technology and digital devices, and integrating environmental education into the curriculum.
• They can reduce the operational and maintenance costs by saving energy, water, and other resources, and diverting more funds to educational programs and activities.
• They can lower the environmental impact by using renewable energy sources, minimizing waste and emissions, and promoting green transportation and lifestyles.
• They can foster a culture of environmental awareness and action among the students, staff, and the community, and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable future.

You can find more information about the benefits of green schools by visiting these links:

• 5 Reasons Why Green Schools are the Future of Education
• Benefits of Green Schools – Green Education Foundation
• The Concept Of Green Schools – Sigma Earth
• Why design or build a green school? – Green Building Council of Australia
• What is a Green School? – BPS Healthy & Sustainable Schools

How can I participate in the GSP in India?

A green school program in India is an initiative that aims to make schools more environmentally friendly and sustainable by following the guidelines and criteria of the Green Schools Programme (GSP) by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)¹. The GSP conducts an annual environmental audit of schools and awards them with green ratings based on their performance in six areas: water, waste, energy, air, land, and food¹. The GSP also provides resources, training, and support to schools to help them improve their environmental practices and awareness¹.

Some of the benefits of a green school program in India are:

• It can enhance the learning and teaching experience by providing a healthy and comfortable environment, using smart technology and digital devices, and integrating environmental education into the curriculum.
• It can reduce the operational and maintenance costs by saving energy, water, and other resources, and diverting more funds to educational programs and activities.
• It can lower the environmental impact by using renewable energy sources, minimizing waste and emissions, and promoting green transportation and lifestyles.
• It can foster a culture of environmental awareness and action among the students, staff, and the community, and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable future.

Some examples of schools that have participated in the green school program in India are:

• Noyes Mat. Hr. Sec. School, Tamil Nadu, which received the Changemaker Award for its efforts in reducing its ecological footprint by using solar energy, non-polluting modes of travel, and organic farming¹.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, New Delhi, which received the Energy Award for running its entire school campus on solar energy and using LEDs and sustainable modes of travel¹.
• Christ Academy CBSE School, Bengaluru, Karnataka, which received the Waste Award for segregating waste into more than four categories, producing biogas from wet waste, and composting within the premises¹.