Climate Action

EARTH DAY NETWORK’S SCHOOL GREENINGS SAVES MILLIONS IN DOLLARS AND POUNDS OF CARBON

Earth Day Network’s School Greenings Saves Millions in Dollars and Pounds of Carbon Students Prepared for 21st Century Leadership Roles   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Resick 202-518-0044, ext. 21 [email protected]   Washington, DCApril 1, 2010 — Earth Day Network’s Education team announced today a groundbreaking 40th anniversary green school initiative that will combine 40 school greenings around the world with the launch of an innovative Earth Day 40th Anniversary Curriculum. From installing solar panels on ten schools around America, to improving water sanitation at a girl’s school in Ghana, Earth Day Network’s Green Schools Campaign will help school districts save money, greenhouse gases and provide healthy, safe environments for learning. A green school typically utilizes 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water – enough savings to hire two additional full-time teachers.In addition to the significant reductions in pollution and energy cost savings, studies have demonstrated that green schools greatly reduce student sick days, and improve student performance, as well as enhance student motivation in the short and long term. “Earth Day Network’s Education program aims to empower today’s youth to be environmentally aware leaders of tomorrow’s future,” said Sean S. Miller, Education Director at Earth Day Network. “For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, our Education team is providing comprehensive environmental education materials and projects to help prepare the next generation for 21st century leadership.” In support of its education mission, Earth Day Network, in association with PBS’s American Experience, is launching a unique Earth Day curriculum that provides a historical overview and assessment of the modern environmental movement. Titled Earth Day 40th Anniversary Curriculum, the resource will be featured as a companion piece to the PBS “Earth Days” film, broadcasting nationwide on April 19. The curriculum is available online at www.earthday.org/education in English, French and Spanish. Underwriters Laboratories, Future Friendly, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Siemens are proud sponsors of Earth Day Network’s Earth Day 2010 activities. About Earth Day Network Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Earth Day Network campaign and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. The organization has a global reach with a network of more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. Earth Day Network is a 501(c)3 organization located in Washington, D.C. ###