-
The school recycles paper.
-
The school reuses its magazines and newspapers for other projects.
-
The school has adopted an endangered species animal from one of several organizations and posted a picture of the animal in a main traffic area.
-
The school media center updates its print and nonprint ecological materials regularly.
-
An energy savings program has been instituted at the school.
-
Students at the school participate in a planned program of energy savings, including dusting coils on cafeteria refrigerators, placing film on windows, setting hot water heaters 1º (Fahrenheit) lower, seeing how plants and trees strategically placed can save energy for the school and checking proper inflation in bus tires and other school vehicles once a month.
-
The school has hosted a visit by an ecological spokesperson, a representative of the Sierra Club, an endangered animal’s species show or a similar presentation.
-
The school has a birdhouse habitat project.
-
The school has established a natural Michigan garden project with native plants.
-
The school has solar power presentations or experiments, such as a solar cookout.
-
Classes do energy audits of their classrooms and make improvements, such as placing film on windows, caulking windows or using kits to make windows more energy efficient.
-
The school has a printer cartridge recycling program through which the school earns money by selling the cartridges to one or more companies that buy cartridges from schools.
-
The school recycles cellular telephones and receives money for the telephones from recycling companies that work with schools.
-
The school observes Earth Day in some way in April.
-
Art classes at the school have a poster contest to support ecology concerns and a school-wide display in conjunction with Earth Day activities.
-
The school has science class projects in which students do several home energy improvements, such as turn down hot water heaters, install home window insulation kits, clean coils on home refrigerators and install draft guards for doors.
-
The school has an ecology club, whose activities include helping senior citizens make their homes more energy efficient, putting in new furnace filters, caulking windows, cleaning refrigerator coils in homes and setting water heaters 1º (Fahrenheit) lower.
-
The school’s classes visit internet sites where clicking saves rainforest habitat and teachers document the students’ effort.
-
The school sets a goal of 5% less energy usage in the school and works with local power utilities to see progress toward the goal.
-
Participation in an activity not listed above that has received approval, prior to its start from one of your county coordinatinators
Macomb County--Additional Points for Green Schools
Macomb County has elected to provide additional environmental points for schools to participate in to receive higher designations under the program.
Emerald designation – 15 points
The Emerald designation can be achieved by successfully participating in 15 points. This must include 10 of the 20 original points listed above, and the other 5 points can be from the original 20, the list of new points below, or a combination of both.
Evergreen designation – 20 points
The Evergreen designation can be achieved by successfully participating in 20 points. This must include 10 of the 20 original points listed above, and the other 10 points can be from the original 20, the list of new points below, or a combination of both.
Again, these additional designations are not part of the law governing the Michigan Green Schools Program, but something that Macomb County feels is important to continue to challenge our schools to do more environmental activities. Remember, you must meet 10 of the original 20 points to participate in the Michigan Green Schools Program.
List of new points
The school/students coordinate a recycling program for any of the following items (each line counts as one point):
1. Plastic bottles (water, juice, etc.)
2. Computer and/or electronic waste
3. Metal/cans
4. Fabric/clothing
5. CD’s/DVD’s
6. Glass
7. Other
8. The school/students compost food/organic wastes at school.
9. The school/students conduct a waste-free lunch program.
10. The school/students buy recycled, biodegradable, locally produced and/or less toxic materials.
11. The school/students reduce the use of resources by_______________ (explain).
12. The school (at least one teacher) teaches a unit on alternative energy.
13. The school/students use alternative energy, renewable fuels, or specialized energy-efficient technology in its operations.
14. Students are involved in a project/event to promote improved vehicle fuel efficiency.
15. The school/students participate in activities promoting the health of the Great Lakes watershed.
16. The students participate in a local community environmental issue via activities such as: letter-writing, attending public hearings, raising funds to protect land, community outreach/education, etc.
17. Propose your own point.
