by Theresa Ficazzola
National Green Week is an annual event that empowers schools to engage in sustainability focused lessons or activities, particularly from February to the end of April. The Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a national non-profit organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education and offers a wide array of sustainability curriculum options to participating schools.
Participating K-12 districts, schools, classrooms or youth groups select a week of their choosing, then pick from the GEF’s sustainability focused programs to be their ‘green theme.’ Each theme provides 5-day standards-based lesson sets, activities, recommended reading, sustainability tips, contests, and more.
Over 10,000 schools and 5 million students have participated in National Green Week to date.
Why is Green Week Important?
Conservation helps protect our planet’s delicate ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources. Children who learn about conservation efforts to save our earth at an early age are more likely to become engaged in the cause and make an impact on our planet. By teaching kids about sustainable practices, we empower them to make choices that contribute to a healthier environment when they’re young, and hopefully throughout their lifetimes.
Integrating a green curriculum into an existing school is easy…especially when the GEF has already created the free materials for you.
How Can You Help?
If you’re a teacher, visit the GEF’s website to obtain classroom lessons on a variety of topics, including:
- Green Buildings
- Sustainable Water
- Waste Reduction
- Green Energy
- Green Thumb
- Ride Green
If you’re a parent, take every opportunity to speak with your children about the many ways they can make a direct, positive impact on the environment, such as:
- Use less heat, air conditioning and water
- Make your home energy efficient
- Don’t waste food or water
- Recycle everything you can
- Use more natural cleaning products like vinegar and baking soda
- Plant your own vegetable garden
- Donate anything you no longer want (toys, books, clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, furniture), so they don’t end up in a landfill
- Install solar panels on your roof in New York or New Jersey
Benefits of Solar Panels
Solar panels have numerous benefits for individuals, families and the planet, including:
- they emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels, so you can help slow the depletion of the ozone layer
- they can save you money by lowering your utility bill
- they are clean, safe and reliable
- they lock in your electric rate, so you’re not subjected to rate increases
- you can get started with $0 out of pocket
- you can take advantage of government tax incentives, state rebates, property tax exemptions, tax abatements and/or renewable energy credits
- you can increase your home’s resale value
- you can help reduce our dependence on costly foreign oil
- you can enjoy cleaner air
SI Solar Provides Solar Services in NY and NJ
The more we talk about how to help the earth, the better off our planet will be in the future. YOU can help create a more eco-friendly environment that can be enjoyed by current and future generations by taking simple steps like installing solar panels on your roof with SI Solar.
Call SI Solar today for a free, no-obligation solar assessment of your home in New York or New Jersey.
Make this the year you do something about helping the planet. Get solar for your home.
And don’t forget to talk to your kids or your students (if you’re a teacher) about how they can directly impact the earth every day. CLICK the orange ‘Do You Qualify’ button at the top of this page to find out if you qualify for thousands in state and federal tax benefits and credits.
