MICHIGAN PUBLIC ACT 301 OF 2010 TO EARN A MICHIGAN GREEN SCHOOLS DESIGNATION, SCHOOLS MUST DO AT LEAST 2 ACTIVITIES IN EACH OF THE FOUR CATEGORIES LISTED BELOW AND HAVE THEIR APPLICATION APPROVED BY THEIR COUNTY COORDINATORS.
CATEGORY 1 : REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE/ USE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES AT SCHOOL
THE SCHOOL/STUDENTS REDUCE USE OF RESOURCES______________________________________________________. THE SCHOOL/STUDENTS COORDINATE A RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR:
- OFFICE PAPER
- PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES
- METAL/CANS
- PRINTER CARTRIDGES
- OTHER:_______________________________________________________________
- NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
- COMPUTERS & ELECTRONIC WASTES
- BATTERIES
- CELL PHONES
- OTHER_______________________________________________________________
- CARDBOARD
- FABRIC/CLOTHING
CDS/DVDS
GLASS
OTHER_____________________________________________________
CATEGORY I I: ENERGY
The School (at least one teacher) teaches a unit on alternative energy.
The school uses alternative energy, renwable fuels, or specialized energy efficient technology in its operations.
The school implements an energy savings program and may track the results.
Students perform energy audits at home and educate their families/community.
The School sponsors an alternative energy presentation, project, or event.
A project (designed by school) is approved by county coordinator by December 1st of each year.
CATEGORY III: The Enviroment
The School/Students participate in activities promoting the health of the Great Lakes watershed.
The School teaches a unit on environmental issues facing Michigan.
The School has a native garden project (vegetable, rain garden, native plants, b utterfly, etc.
School has a wild/domestic animal habitat project (birdhouse, bat house, or project approved by the county coordinator.
Students participate iin a local community environmental issue by doing activities such as letter-writng, attending public hearing, raising funds to protect land, community outreach/education, etc.
A project (designed by school) is approved by county coordinator by December 1st of each year:
CATEGORY IV: Miscellaneous Projects
The School/Students ahve adopted an endangered or threatened species and informs others.
School/Students host an environmental or energy speaker, event, field trips/ etc.
The School/Students have an acitive club participating in environmental activities.
The demonstrates preparation for an Earth Day Event (Earth Day is April 22.)
The School has an updated bulletin board or kiosk on environmental concerns and how the school is addressing them.
The School has an Eco Reading. High School, Middle School and community adult volunteers read books with an environmental theme to elementary students.
A Project (designed by school) is approved by county coordinator by December 1st.
Schools may also elect to continue with the 20 points which still meet the above criteria.
1. The school recycles paper.
2. The school reuses its magazines and newspapers for other projects.
3. 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.
4. The school media center updates its print and nonprint ecological materials regularly.
5. An energy savings program has been instituted at the school.
6. 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 1° (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.
7. The school has hosted a visit by an ecological spokesperson, a representative of the Sierra Club, an endangered animals species show, or a similar presentation.
8. The school has a birdhouse habitat project.
9. The school has established a natural Michigan garden project with native plants.
10. The school has solar power presentations or experiments, such as a solar cookout.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. The school recycles batteries and has designated a representative to return them to an appropriate recycling program.
14. The school recycles cellular telephones and receives money for the telephones from recycling companies that work with schools.
15. The school observes Earth Day in some way in April.
16. Art classes at the school have a poster contest to support ecology concerns and a school-wide display in conjunction with Earth Day activities.
17. 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.
18. The school has an ecology club, whose activities include such activities as 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 1° (Fahrenheit) lower.
19. The school’s classes visit internet sites where clicking saves rainforest habitat and teachers document the students’ efforts
20. 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.
See more ideas for great activities!
Application deadline for academic year 2011-2012
Questions? Please contact Kristine Moffett by phone at The Michigan Green School Office: 810-626-2109) or email.
