From Interior Design Magazine....

USGBC Launches Third National Green Schools Campaign

Following the event, software manufacturer Adobe Systems announced it will fund the renovation and repair of three schools identified by the Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools.

NICHOLAS TAMARIN -- INTERIOR DESIGN, 9/24/2009

It's said that children are our nation's most precious resource. So, it's only fitting that the theUnited States Green Building Council—an organization that knows a thing or two about resources—began the fall semester by kicking off the third edition of its National Green Schools Campaign with the first meeting of the Coalition for Green Schools, a group of eleven educational and environmental groups. The September 8 gathering centered on the Campaign's goal of improving indoor environmental quality of America's K-12 schools, while also making them more energy, water, and resource efficient. This dovetails with the Coalition's agenda of higher test scores for students, higher retention among teachers, and lower absenteeism rates for both groups through improved indoor air quality.

Following the event, which featured remarks by Martha Kanter, Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, software manufacturer Adobe Systems announced it will fund the renovation and repair of three schools in Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco as identified by the Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools.

Later this month, the USGBC will host its 2nd Annual Congressional Advocacy Day, when 100 advocates from USGBC chapters will descend upon Washington to stress the importance of green schools.

"There is no more important work we have before us than making sure that every one of our children attends a school where the learning environment works for them, not against them," says Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC. "Our National Green Schools Campaign has sought to make this a priority agenda item for school districts, local and state government bodies, and for those who set the national agenda in our schools, who like USGBC, would like to get this done within our generation."

Fedrizzi also pointed to the 21^st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Actand the funding for green school construction and renovation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as initiatives that he viewed as making significant progress in the past year. Besides the USGBC, the Coalition for Green Schools Executive Committee includes American Architectural Foundation, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association of School Business Officials International, Council of Educational Facility Planners International, Healthy Schools Campaign, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, National Education Association, National Education Association Health Information Network, National PTA, and National School Boards Association.