Global Green USA Completes 2nd Green School Makeover; Demonstrates Model for Sustainability at Green Schools National Conferenc

-

Initiative Educates and Empowers Schools to Become Energy-Efficient, Conserve Water and Reduce Waste in Order to Help Curb Climate Change

SACRAMENTO, CA – April 1, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Speaking at the Green Schools National Conference, Global Green USA and Pureology announced the completion of its comprehensive, student-led Green School Makeover at Boston Latin School. A panel of expert judges selected the winning school after six months of intensive outreach by educators, school districts and educational organizations, resulting in more than 450 submissions. Drawing on its green building expertise that spans more than two decades, Global Green USA provided Boston Latin School with a $75,000 grant to realize its student-created proposal of giving America’s first and oldest public school a sustainability-focused makeover.

Global Green’s Green School Makeover competition, presented by Pureology, helps students and teachers upgrade their school to be healthier and more energy-efficient, engages students in behavior that curbs climate change, and ultimately save thousands of dollars on energy costs which can be reallocated toward education. The initiative is designed to serve as a model for schools and communities across the U.S.

“The Boston Latin students are incredibly eco-conscious and committed to sustainability,” said Mary Luévano, Interim Executive Director of Global Green USA. “It inspires us to see them so engaged in greening their school environment. If we all took responsibility for our corner of the world in the same way, we would be able to solve the most pressing issue facing our world today – curbing climate change.”

Boston Latin School, which counts four Harvard presidents and five signers of the Declaration of Independence as alumni, applied the grant to establish itself as a shining example for schools across the country by developing sustainable, student-conceptualized initiatives, including the:

Sage Vertical Wall: An indoor vertical growing wall located in the cafeteria;

Freight Farm Hydroponic Growing Lab: Students will use the growing lab, made from a recycled shipping container, to grow leafy greens to be sold at local farmers markets. Students will learn about hydroponic growing, as well as the economics of our food system;

Elkay Water Bottle Filing Station: The new unit installed as part the Green School Makeover has already prevented nearly 3,000 single-use water bottles from going to a landfill; and

Lucid Building Dashboard: The dashboard will monitor and display the school building’s energy use and water use. This will allow the students to see how much energy the building uses and to complete experiments aimed at lowering the electricity use through different building retrofits and/or behavioral changes.

“Boston Latin is delighted with the features that Global Green brought to our school,” said Cate Arnold, Faculty Advisor Boston Latin School. “Students are learning the importance of sustainability, how to work with hydroponics, and will be able to track our energy performance throughout our school to target further energy reductions.”

Global Green led a panel of expert judges that selected Boston Latin School from over 450 entries from around the country; each including a student-created proposal outlining what the student body would do if they won the competition.

Launched in 2011, Global Green USA’s Green School Makeover Competition, presented by Pureology, first empowered the Texas School for the Deaf with a green makeover grant and – now in its second year – offered a $75,000 cash prize, a $5,000 Office Depot gift card, and technical assistance from the national organization’s team of green schools/ green building experts to Boston Latin School. Nine other finalist schools received Office Depot cards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. For more information, visit: http://www.globalgreen.org/greenschools/. For more information about Pureology, please visit www.pureology.com.

ABOUT GLOBAL GREEN USA
Global Green USA is dedicated to helping the people, places, and the planet in need through catalytic projects, transformative policy, and cutting-edge research. Global Green USA’s signature programs include greening affordable housing, schools, neighborhoods, and cities as well as rebuilding communities – such as New Orleans and areas of New York and New Jersey – that have suffered from the impacts of climate change, sea level rise, and environmental degradation. Global Green USA is the U.S. affiliate of Green Cross International, which was founded by President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable a secure future. Visit us at www.globalgreen.org, like us on Facebook.com/globalgreenfans and follow us on Twitter @globalgreen.

ABOUT PUREOLOGY SERIOUS COLOUR CARE
Pureology offers a complete collection of haircare and styling products that enhance and protect colour vibrancy while ensuring improved condition and healthy shine. From concentrated Zero Sulfate® Shampoos to our conditioners, masques and stylers, each and every product contains the exclusive Anti Fade Complex® to maximize colour retention from start to finish and deliver our promise of Longer Lasting Hair Colour GUARANTEED!® For more information visit Pureology.com and like Pureology on Facebook.

For more information, contact:
Matt Higgins
(215) 584-7883

Tina Vennegaard
Global Green USA
(310) 581-2700

Previous articleRebuilding Together Launches National Rebuilding Month in April
Next articleFormer Alabama Real Estate Investor Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud