From the Editor
It’s no doubt one of the more frustrating things for a facility manager — you’re working diligently to squeeze every kilowatt hour out of your building. But when you do your monthly evening building walk-through, you find a new crop of mini-refrigerators in classrooms, space heaters in the library, and lights left on in the breakroom.

Seasoned school FMs know that the most energy efficient buildings aren’t the ones with the fancy HVAC equipment and ultra-efficient lights (though, those certainly help). The most efficient buildings — especially in the case of K-12 schools — are those in which the FM has a good relationship with principals, teachers, and even students, and therefore everyone is pitching in to help eliminate energy waste.

But other than the obvious — don’t leave lights on! — there aren’t a lot of good training tools for facility managers to help school their occupants on how to be energy efficient. Until now. The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council recently announced its new Green Classroom Professional certificate.

The certificate goes way beyond teaching teachers how to be energy efficient, though. According to The Center for Green Schools, “This certificate program provides pre-K-12 teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and parents with the knowledge and skills to support environmentally healthy, resource efficient and sustainable schools and classrooms.”

The certificate includes 12 modules covering key topics in classroom health, including indoor air quality, water efficiency, and resources.

Sure, there may be some resistance, but if FMs can show the principals or other administrators that certifying teachers may have a tangible monetary benefit with a specific payback, chances are much better of getting teachers on their side too.

What do you think? What are some strategies you’ve used to get occupants on your side in terms of green initiatives? 

Cheers,

Greg Zimmerman, editor  

Green Strategies
Learning to Be Green

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