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Green Cleaning Bill Dies, But Local Efforts Have Life

There are literally hundreds of less toxic "green cleaning products" that schools can use that are certified "green" by independent organizations like Green Seal and Environmental Choice. The states of New York, Illinois, and Maine have passed laws requiring schools to use "green cleaners." In California, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia sponsored AB2808, the Green Cleaning in Schools Bill, that would have required schools to make the switch by 2012 at the latest. AB2808 was passed by the Assembly Education Committee, but did not pass out of the Appropriations Committee due to the California budget crisis "suspending" many bills with any costs higher than $50,000. The Assemblywoman received many, many letters of support from teachers unions, school facility managers, asthma, children's health, environmental, and cancer organizations, and parents. Thank you to those of you who sent letters! Stay tuned... Similar legislation will likely be sponsored again next year. In the meantime, promote green cleaning in your local schools today! There is no reason to wait when less-toxic products are on the market now.

Check out Green Seal or Environmental Choice for lists of certified green cleaning products

Green Cleaning in Schools: AB2808 in California Assembly

Take action to support AB2808, a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia in the California Assembly, which will require schools to use "environmentally sensitive" cleaning materials and products. The bill is modeled on similar laws passed by the states of New York, Illinois, and Maine, where schools are successfully making the switch to less toxic cleaners. See the sample letter and email link below.

Cleaning products used in schools contain an array of hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens, reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, and chemicals that cause asthma. Chemicals in cleaners contribute to poor indoor air quality, smog formation, asthma and respiratory problems and other diseases. The cleaning industry consumes six billion pounds of chemicals annually, including non-renewable resources such as petroleum. The health of teachers, students, and custodians are at risk from these products. In California, nearly one million children have asthma, which is the main cause of hospitalization for children under 15 and is the primary cause of school absenteeism from a chronic illness. Custodians and teachers suffer from asthma at much higher rates than the general working population, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and is attributed, in part, to exposure to cleaning products.

Thankfully, there are now hundreds of less toxic commercial and institutional cleaning products available on the market that have been independently certified to exclude carcinogens, reproductive toxins and other hazardous chemicals. In fact, the states of New York, Illinois, and Maine have already adopted laws requiring schools to switch to greener cleaning products, and many more states have legislation pending. Many school districts are finding that they can save money by switching to green cleaners that are concentrated so they use less, can reduce absenteeism, and can improve staff and student health.

This bipartisan-supported bill has passed the California Assembly’s Education Committee and is now being considered by the Appropriations Committee. Please write to Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, the bill’s sponsor, to express your support for requiring schools to use less toxic cleaning products and safeguard your children’s health at school! DEADLINE: May 12, 2008

Read the sample letter and more information about AB2808

Send support email to Assemblywoman Bonnia Garcia's Office

Read Los Angeles Times article about cleaners and health, quotes Green Schools Initiative, Women's Voices for the Earth, and others

Independent Schools Magazine, Spring 2008: "It's Easy To Be Green" Feature Article

Deborah Moore, Green Schools Initiative's Executive Director, authored a feature article for Independent Schools Magazine, a publication by the National Association of Independent Schools. The article outlines "seven steps to a healthier school," which can apply to public and independent schools alike. Examples from a variety of schools are described.

Read "It's Easy To Be Green" in Independent Schools Magazine

Learn how to Take Action at your school

Look for tips from Green Schools Initiative in the April 2008 issue of Parenting Magazine as well.

New York Times, February 16, 2008: "For 'EcoMoms,' Saving Earth Begins at Home"

Read about how "EcoMoms" are helping reduce consumption, saving energy, and avoiding toxics at home. Green Schools Initiative helped "EcoMom" Wendy Murphy develop some guidelines for her kids' preschool and is now helping evaluate green cleaners for her elementary school. We are mentioned in the article as well. Children spend the majority of their day indoors at school. Help make the home-school connection! Become an EcoMom, green your PTA, and make your school healthy and sustainable! Visit our Take Action and Resources pages for ideas. Sign up for our mailing list and receive our e-newsletter with helpful tips, examples from other schools, and announcements and events.

Read the New York Times article

Visit EcoMom Alliance

Cow Hollow Preschool's Buying Guidelines (PDF)

Story of Stuff on-line video launches

Berkeley, CA (December 4, 2007) - The Story of Stuff video with Annie Leonard launched on December 4. This short film, made in collaboration with Free Range Studios, offers a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the dark underbelly of our materials economy. From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. This video, sponsored by The Tides Foundation and the Funders Workgroup on Sustainable Production and Consumption, is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

The video should be watched by parents, teachers, students, school board members, facilities managers, and any school community member! Show it in your class. Organize a viewing night. Host an assembly. The website contains loads of fact sheets, links, resources, and discussion questions. After watching the video, Take Action to green your school and reduce your consumption of stuff!

Green Schools Initiative in San Francisco Chronicle article about global warming and schools

San Francisco, CA (April 20, 2007) - The San Francisco Chronicle produced an informative special section on global warming today, featuring many things people can do to reduce their carbon footprint. One article focused on what schools can do, and highlighted a number of Green Schools Initiative's suggestions, including recycling, buying recycled products, promoting school gardens, reducing consumption via energy conservation and installation of solar panels, and - most importantly - engaging students' creativity in transforming the environmental health of their own schools. More research shows that hands-on experiential learning, like school greening environmental education activities, improves student achievement and enhances students' long-term civic involvement.

Read the SF Chronicle article, "Campuses moving to forefront of green building, education," by Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer, 4/20/2007

Greenbacks for Green Schools: New Listing of Funding Sources

Berkeley, CA (November 17, 2006) - Green Schools Initiative has a new compilation of resources for parents, teachers, and administrators who are interested in finding ways to cover the costs of greening their schools. The list includes a variety of types of funding, including discounts, grants, free items, and technical assistance from a number of sources, including the state of California, cities and counties, corporations and non-profit organizations. Funds are available in all four key areas: eliminating toxics, using resources sustainably, creating green, healthy spaces, and teaching stewardship. So, don't let lack of cash stop your school from greening...

Download the "Greenbacks for Green Schools" PDF

Green Schools Initiative on Terra Verde Radio Show

Berkeley, CA (September 15, 2006) - It's back to school season and as parents and students are getting ready for the start of a new school year, some parents are asking is my child's school safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable? Deborah Moore, Executive Director of the Green Schools Initiative, was a guest on KPFA Radio's Terra Verde show talking about the campaign to clean up schools and make them healthier more sustainable learning environments.

Listen to the Terra Verde radio interview with Deborah Moore

Green Schools Initiative: Make Your Back to School GREEN

Berkeley, CA (September 6, 2006) - Back to School time! Green Schools Initiative can help you make Back to School green to ensure that your child’s school is healthy, safe, and sustainable. Learn how to buy recycled- and environmentally-friendly school supplies, pack a waste-free lunch, check out the health and safety of your school facilities, inquire about your school’s Wellness Policy, and more… Our children spend a large part of their days inside a school, so it is critical that the school environment not expose our children to toxic chemicals, have good indoor air quality, serve healthy food, allow for recess and physical education, and generally promote health and well-being. You can be part of the solution – take action this school year!

Read the full story for Green Back to School Tips

Green Schools Initiative Awarded a "Golden Frog for Environmental Excellence" by E-Cards and GreenLeap

San Francisco, CA (May 1, 2006) - The Green Schools Initiative is the proud recipient of a 2006 Golden Frog award from the E-Cards and GreenLeap business. Every Earth Day, E-Cards and GreenLeap like to award environmental organizations with a portion of their revenues, as part of their efforts to "do well, by doing good."

As noted by CEO Robb Waterman in the award letter accompanying the 2006 "Froggie" and $1,000 donation, "we have been very impressed with Green Schools' mission and initial work in 'greening' our schools. Your four pillared approach to improving school environments and environmental education presents a clear and compelling vision for our children."

Deborah Moore, Executive Director of the Green Schools Initiative, said "we are thrilled with the recognition and will use the funds to support the development of our teacher training materials." "I am honored to be in the company of other Golden Frog winners that I hold in such high regard, like Center for New American Dream, Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Grist magazine," noted Moore.

Thank you E-Cards and GreenLeap! Send an E-Card today and help save valuable paper and forest resources!

Read the full story about the Golden Frog Awards

Emeryville School District Passes First, Comprehensive “Green Schools" Resolution in California

Emeryville, CA (May 10, 2005) - The Emery Unified School District Board (EUSD) passed the first, comprehensive framework resolution among schools in California that creates a broad vision to make Emeryville's schools healthy and environmentally-sound places to work and learn. The resolution is based on the work of the Green Schools Initiative, a new organization with a mission to improve the health and ecological sustainability of schools in the U.S.

"We are a school district that wants to make a difference," said Forrest Gee, President of the EUSD Board of Education. "Kids and teachers spend most of their day at school and we want our environment to foster their health and well-being – from the food they eat, to the air they breathe, and even to the paper and pencils and energy they use," added Gee.

Deborah Moore, Co-Director of the Green Schools Initiative, said "We are pleased to see the Emeryville School District show such leadership by passing this resolution and we hope this sparks interest among more and more school districts. Imagine if all schools in California become toxics-free, use recycled paper, conserve energy and serve healthy food – it would make such a difference in our kids' health and the planet's health!"

Read the full press release

Read the final text of the "Resolution for Healthy, Environmentally-Sound Schools"