Solar Panels

Harness the sun's power! Solar panels that help power the school not only reduce carbon emissions, but also save money on electricity. Solar systems usually have display readouts so you can see how much electricity is produced on a given day – and how much money and carbon your school saved. For more information, see Solar for Schools.

Skylights

Here comes the sun! Skylights are often a smart addition to school buildings because they bring in natural light, lowering the need for electric lights. When located in the right place, they also let the sun warm the air inside, reducing winter heating costs. For more information, see Skylights at Energy.gov.

Butterfly Garden

Who doesn't love butterflies? These showy insects are important pollinators, helping plants to thrive. You can attract butterflies to your school by growing a butterfly garden with a variety of plants they love. Monarch butterflies, for example, need milkweed plants to lay their eggs. For more information, see Butterfly Gardening.

Cork or bamboo flooring

Check under your feet! Believe it or not, some school flooring is "greener" than others. Cork and bamboo are durable and sustainable options. Cork comes from the bark of cork oak trees, and can be collected many times in a tree's life. Bamboo is made from a fast-growing grass plant, which can regrow after the woody stems are harvested. For more information, see Cork Flooring, and Uses for Bamboo.

No Idling Sign

Quit your idling! Idling is when a driver keeps a parked car's engine running. Near schools, idling exposes children to unhealthy exhaust that can affect the lung, eye, throat, and nasal passages – and is especially harmful to people with asthma. A school "no idling" policy helps to keep air clean. For more information, see the Earth Day Organization's No Idling Campaign.

Clothing Recycle Bin

Think before you toss! Every year, Americans throw away millions of tons of clothing and shoes – valuable resources that could be used by people in need or recycled. Clothes recycling bins in schools help to reduce both waste and greenhouse gases. If all those clothes and shoes were recycled, it would be similar to removing a million cars from America's roads. For more information, see Waste Couture.

Compost Bins

Break it down! Composting is a natural process that uses fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms to break down food waste and other organic material, making a rich, soil fertilizer (humus). Composting bins speed up this process and help schools reduce trash, conserve space, and save money. For more information see A Guide to Starting a Composting Program in Your School."

Rain Barrel

Water, water, everywhere! You can save water, help the environment, make your plants happy – and have fun creating art at school with rain barrels. Rain barrels store rain water for later use. If you recycle plastic drums used for food storage, you can also reduce waste. For more information, see The Rain Barrel Project.