2007-2009 Year of Planet Earth 

We all know that the great, big leaves, bark & roots from our trees clean the air and give us fresh oxygen. My grandmother always told me to have plants around the house because they clean the air. Now, an on-going study by NASA is proving just that. With so many of our schools, homes and buildings being energy efficient and air-tight, we are trapping chemicals and toxins from synthetic building materials inside with us. However, as we look back at the basics, B.C. "Bill" Wolverton has found that, yet again, the environment has natural abilities to clean itself, and it uses plants to do it. Indoor plants have the uncanny ability to trap the VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from off-gassing synthetics which are known irritants and potential carcinogens that make people feel ill, Sick Building Syndrome. Plants have a somewhat complex system of emitting water vapor "that creates a pumping action to pull contaminated air down around a plant's roots, where it is then converted into food for the plant." The cleansing work done by these plants is phenomenal! According to Wolverton,' "If man is to move into closed environments, on Earth or in space, he must take along nature's life support system." Plants.' 
 
This tells us that having plants in our classrooms and homes is actually good for us both aesthetically and physically. If you are looking for plants that do a great job as an air cleaner, we found a few recommendations. Peace Lilies, Gerbera Daisies, Bamboo Palms, Chrysanthemums, and English Ivy were amongst the top air scrubbers. They removed approximately 87% of the benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide (some of the major synthetic airborne toxins) within a 24-hour period.
 
For the nitty-gritty of the details, consult Wolverton's book, "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office." Also, log onto the NASA site for details about the study.

 

 

This year's theme is designed to get everyone thinking about all the things we do both individually and collectively that affect our rivers and watersheds. We all live downstream from someone, and no one wants their pollution. For more info, ideas & downloads, log onto
 
World Wetlands Day 2009

 

 

 

Check out this wonderful website, www.theloraxproject.com. You and your class can join the Lorax Project whose goal is to help protect the forests and endangered species of the earth. The site has great ideas for being environmentally-friendly plus information about the endangered forests and animals, games, activities and free downloads. Dr. Seuss was a smart man!

The Lorax Project 

 

This webinar is designed to show you the best ways of significantly improving your school's energy performance. Learn how to determine maximum energy efficiency investment opportunities for your district, leverage existing capital funds to go deeper with energy saving strategies & methods, evaluate district operations & maintenance budget to identify hidden resources & opportunities, and learn about new energy saving technologies that can be applied to existing schools. Webinar is sponsored by the US Green Building Council, January 21, 2009, 12-1:30 pm CST, fee: $15. To register, go to

 

 

Do you enjoy hands-on fun? Join us as we splash around, explore & investigate in the water. Register for our educational watershed workshop; we'll hop on the bus, pull up our boots, step into the river, and learn about the quality of the waters of our own streams. We'll conduct water tests, and we'll identify benthic macro-invertebrates - those interesting bottom-dwelling mussels, crayfish, etc., that serve as indicators of water quality. We will even climb to the skies to learn - about green roofs.

The first day will be held in the classroom building watershed models and more, to learn what we (and our students) can do to protect our watersheds and keep them clean. Day 2 is filled with visits to several watersheds and stormwater management solution sites. Jump into this class with both feet!

 

FEE: $15 (AM & PM snacks provided)
CREDIT: 15 CPDUs (FREE) or 1 Graduate Credit from Aurora University ($TBA)

 

Let us immerse you in trash - well, in the problems, concerns and solutions that surround the "stuff" we make and buy and use and throw away, day in and day out! We'll travel by bus to explore landfills, recycling centers and other sites to help us understand the many processes that deal with all this garbage. And we'll take time each day to experiment, build, discuss and digest where we have been and why. Lots of fun & learning; lots of resources!  Participants need to pack waste-free lunches every day.

FEE: $75 (AM & PM snacks provided)
CREDIT:  7 CEU's (FREE) or 3 Graduate Credits from Aurora University ($TBA)

 

If taking WIA for graduate credit, project & follow-up meeting are required.
All lessons must be presented to fellow participants (7/02) so lessons can be graded & recorded within Aurora U. time limits. (A second presentation date will be chosen during that same week by those who cannot make the follow-up date.)
 

For more info & to register for these unique & exciting workshops, go to www.s-c-a-r-c-e.org, click on Teacher Workshops or call 630-545-9710. Space is limited.
Workshops are presented by SCARCE & funded by DuPage County's Environmental Education Program.
SCARCE is an APPROVED IL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER.
 

Is your school interested in reducing energy and saving money?  Some energy providers will actually pay schools to reduce their energy use. Visit the Healthy Schools Website to learn about ways your school can participate in a new demand response program. Deadline to participate is Jan 31.

For more info, contact Mark Bishop, 312-419-1806 or click Healthy Schools Campaign
 

 

Gardening Grant

The Illinois Recycling Association would like to know. They want nominations for The Outstanding High School Environmental Club Awards.

A $500 stipend is available to the top two high school environmental clubs. To view the requirements or to download a nomination packet, log onto

2009 HS Award.

 

Not a High School Environmental Club? The IRA offers other 2009 Recycling Awards. Log onto 2009 Recycling Award and see if you, your school or your district might qualify. 
 

To be eligible for a Green Youth Award, projects must involve one or more of the following categories: waste reduction, prevention or reduction of pollution in the air (climate change/global warming), land or water restoration, preservation or enhancement of natural areas; and energy or water efficiency.
Individuals or youth currently enrolled in K-12 schools, scouts, 4-H or other groups, and who have participated in an environmental project started no earlier than 2007, are eligible to apply.

 

Green Youth Award

 

The Village of Lombard has hundreds of new or barely used 150W, 200W & 250W incandescent indoor flood lights available to non-profits like schools for free. Contact the Lombard Public Works Dept 630.620.5740.

 

What a GREAT way to show kids just how important trees are to us!!! You can use it for Arbor Day as well.

 

In this story, a father writes his memories of the family tree which has been injured during a storm. The giant tree was dubbed "Steve" by the youngest who couldn't pronounce "tree." Through the years, Steve became the family swing, third base, laundry line, campground, and a place for comfort & shade. The pencil-and-watercolor cartoons feature Catrow's round-faced children and their comical dog with heart-warming and amusing scenes. Zweibel attempts to give the story a hopeful twist at the end, but, overall, it is a bittersweet and genuinely sad slice of life when this family treasure dies.

 

 

Sustainable Architecture is a collection of readings designed to address sustainable design practices, construction practices, products, and resources. The book is divided into six sections: practice, building community, public works, homes and schools, products and materials, and resources. This great resource will inspire its readers to move from traditional lines of architecture to sustainable, forward-looking planning.