by Katie Fleming, Rhonda Hunter & Kimberly Cline E COOL SCHOOL


CHALLENGE Students Take Action!


The Cool School Challenge received the EPA’s


2009 national Clean Air Excellence Award for its ‘impact, innovation and replicability.’


xtreme weather events, rising sea levels, melting glaciers – oh my! While climate change is an overwhelming issue, there is certainly hope, especially in the collective power of individual actions to reduce greenhouse gas


emissions. That’s the underlying principle of the Cool School Chal- lenge, an innovative climate education program that motivates students, teachers and school districts to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2


) emissions school-wide. At the heart of the program is the


philosophy that big changes start with small steps – and taken together, simple individual actions create a world of difference. Cumulatively, we CAN reduce our carbon footprint and it’s already happening! The Cool School Challenge engages schools from all across the emissions by 2,000 pounds


country in strategies to reduce CO2


or more per classroom, per school year. By conducting audits of classroom energy, solid waste, and transportation behaviors, stu- dents identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and shrink their carbon impact. Three years into the program, the collective small steps of nearly 100 schools in Washington State and beyond are indeed reaping powerful results. Participating schools have reported nearly 2 million pounds of CO2


reductions.


footprint by making small changes like turning off lights and power strips.” said Jenessa, a 12th


“The Challenge was an opportunity to decrease our carbon grade student from Nooksack


Valley High School in Everson, WA. “Not only did the students learn from this experience but even teachers confessed they had no idea these changes could make a difference.” The simple ac- tions in the Cool School Challenge all add up to a big difference.


The original concept for the Cool School Challenge was incu-


bated in Mike Town’s environmental science class at Redmond High School, in Washington State. Inspired by the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, Mr. Town’s motivated students de- cided to assess their schools’ contribution to climate change. This led to bigger thinking: If cities can challenge each other, schools can too. In its first year, Redmond saved 76 tons of CO2


. In addi-


tion, they saved $22,500 on utility bills during the first two years of the program. Students are catching on that reducing CO2


emissions not


only helps protect the planet, but can also protect the school’s bottom line. Strategies that reduce waste, curb consumption, and improve efficiency can help schools save money on utility bills. Dollar savings certainly speak loud and clear to administrators during tough budget times. Megan and Amanda, two students at Mountlake Terrace High School in Mountlake Terrace, WA formed their senior culminating project around this idea. “My overall project goal was to show that you can save money by doing simple things around classrooms, not by cutting school programs. Last year, they were proposing to cut 5th and other music programs. I’ve been in band since 5th


grade band grade and


I think it’s really beneficial to the community. So I was thinking of an alternative way to save money other than cutting programs and I heard about this program (Cool School Challenge) through my Spanish teacher and I thought it would be a good way to save money,” said Megan. And so they did! At the end of the school year, five classrooms reported estimated savings of $325. If you multiply that by the hundreds of classrooms in a district, the dol- lars could really add up. The program has now expanded to schools throughout Wash-


ington State as well as to Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, California and even the United Arab Emirates.


Page 48 www.clearingmagazine.org/online CLEARING 2010


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