HR 26 (LSB 2334YH (3) 85)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 26

BY  KELLEY

A Resolution in support of green schools.

   WHEREAS, economic growth in the twenty-first century will be enhanced by establishing policies that promote the potential of our buildings and our children to achieve a healthier, safer, more efficient, resilient, and prosperous future; and
   WHEREAS, deteriorating school infrastructure and poor indoor environmental quality threaten the health, well-being, and achievement of staff and students; and
   WHEREAS, healthy, high-performance schools, or “green schools”, create an indoor environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources, and money; and
   WHEREAS, children in green schools are healthier and more productive because green schools incorporate natural day lighting, thermal comfort, and classroom design, all of which have been shown to improve children’s well-being and ability to learn; and
   WHEREAS, the benefits of superior indoor air quality have been linked to lower asthma rates, fewer allergies, reduced absenteeism, and increased teacher retention rates; and
   WHEREAS, green schools use an average of 30 to 50 percent less energy compared to conventional schools; and
   WHEREAS, programs such as the leadership in energy and environmental design green building rating system can optimize building performance, resolve operational inefficiencies, and dramatically reduce utility costs in new school construction and existing school renovation; and
   WHEREAS, green schools provide an educational experience that transcends the classroom by creating a host of opportunities for curriculum innovation and hands-on project-based learning in which the building itself becomes an interactive teaching tool; and
   WHEREAS, green school construction and renovation projects are readily able to be completed at no higher cost than conventional school construction and renovation; and
   WHEREAS, existing schools can become greener through low-cost or no-cost operations and maintenance improvements, such as implementing water efficiency measures, green cleaning programs, smarter purchasing practices, recycling and waste reduction initiatives, and energy management plans that can save a school district millions of dollars a year in direct operating expenses; and
   WHEREAS, the benefits of green schools transcend political boundaries; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives supports the establishment of policies that promote green schools and establishes a goal of every child being provided an opportunity to attend green primary and secondary schools in this state.