Center for Green Schools at USGBC Green Apple Initiative to Begin Saturday

Sept. 26, 2012
Green Apple, a global initiative of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) providing individuals, companies, and organizations the opportunity to transform schools into healthier, safer, more cost-efficient, and more productive learning places, will celebrate its official launch with the first Green Apple Day of Service Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

Green Apple, a global initiative of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) providing individuals, companies, and organizations the opportunity to transform schools into healthier, safer, more cost-efficient, and more productive learning places, will celebrate its official launch with the first Green Apple Day of Service Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

Announced during the recent Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting in New York, Green Apple will bring together students, teachers, parents, elected officials, organizations, companies, and more for service projects at local schools.

“No one benefits more from high-performing buildings than our children," Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer, and founding chair of the USGBC, said. "The recognition of Green Apple as a CGI commitment underscores the importance of providing the next generation with the opportunity to learn in the best educational environment possible. Our hope is that the upcoming Green Apple Day of Service will allow us to expand this recognition and create broader awareness among parents, teachers, students, and communities all over the world.”

Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools, added: “The conversation around education most often focuses on ‘what’ children are learning and ‘who’ is teaching them, but through Green Apple, we are bringing attention to ‘where’ our children learn because we understand that where we learn matters. We know how to create high-performing schools that save hundreds of thousands of dollars and provide enhanced learning environments for our children. But we can’t do it alone, and through the support of CGI and our partners, we are seeing change happen."

Green Apple is made possible by partners including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, United Technologies Corp., Interface, Excel Dryer, Armstrong, and SolarCity. As part of the CGI commitment, Green Apple is working with these companies to develop and deploy resources including toolkits, training, and case studies.

To learn more about Green Apple and to register for a Green Apple Day of Service project, click here.