The Center for Green Schools at USGBC Announces Inaugural Green Apple Day of Service

On Sept. 29, 2012, participants from all over the world will volunteer to make the schools and campuses in their communities healthier and more sustainable

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last week, the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council officially announced the first ever Green Apple Day of Service, a global call to take real action in support of healthy, sustainable schools. On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, the Green Apple Day of Service will engage students, teachers, parents, business leaders, elected officials and others in volunteer activities at schools and campuses in their communities.

The Green Apple Day of Service was announced last Friday at Green School in Bali, Indonesia, the Center's selection as the "2012 Greenest School on Earth." The international school offers a child-centered and holistic education with a strong focus on sustainability and the environment. Green School's structures are built from local, renewable bamboo; the campus runs primarily on solar energy sponsored by the Akuo Foundation and utilizes bio-intensive organic farming; and among other noteworthy projects hosts a breeding sanctuary for endangered local birds, including the nearly extinct in the wild Bali Starling.

"The Green Apple Day of Service is a perfect platform for empowering communities around the world to take real, measurable steps to improve learning environments," said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. "We could think of no better place to announce our Day of Service than Green School in Bali, which exists in perfect harmony with the earth it sits on and possesses a deep connection with the surrounding community. By committing a single day to all work together, we underscore that the health and wellbeing of the billions of people who walk into schools and colleges every day are a top priority." 

More than 700 million children are enrolled in primary education worldwide according to the UNESCO 2011 Global Education Digest, and 25 percent of Americans walk into schools and colleges every day. The Center is anticipating at least 2,500 service projects taking place with more than 20,000 volunteers around the world. The Center for Green Schools was established to drive the transformation of all learning environments into safe, engaging and comfortable facilities that enhance a student's ability to learn and a teacher's ability to teach, and the Green Apple Day of Service is a tangible way we are working to further advance our mission of green schools for everyone within this generation.

"And while we have only anecdotal research at this point," noted Gutter, "green schools seem to be a common thread in growing the green building movement globally. We've had so much interest in Center for Green Schools programs and partnerships that we think our Green Apple Day of Service will attract participants from every corner of the planet."

Early support from USGBC chapters, policy makers, K-12 and higher education institutions as well as global corporate partners, including the Center's founding sponsor United Technologies Corporation, Interface and Haworth, have already signed up to have their employees participate in acts of service on Sept. 29.

To learn more about how you can get involved, sign up for service projects in your area, connect with other volunteers and share ideas around the Green Apple Day of Service, visit mygreenapple.org. Follow the Center for Green Schools on Facebook and Twitter (@mygreenschools) and join the conversation by using the #greenapple hashtag.

About the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is how USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From the kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing research in a lab, the Center provides the resources and support to elevate dialogue, accelerate policy and institute innovation toward green schools and campuses. High-performing schools result in high-performing students, and the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play. www.centerforgreenschools.org

Contact:
Marisa Long
External Relations Manager, USGBC
202.552.1500
mlong@usgbc.org 

SOURCE U.S. Green Building Council