Chicago Public Schools is working to minimize its impact on the environment and to teach students to be environmental stewards. Our Environmental Action Plan has 26 results-oriented strategies that the entire CPS community can take on to help. With this plan, CPS takes the lead among urban school districts in environmental action.
You can help implement the Environmental Action Plan by working with your school’s administration to start or continue environmental activities at your school. See the Resources section below for project ideas.
News
CPS is updating the Environmental Action Plan for 2010 and beyond, and we want your input. Please review the plan and send your comments to GoGreen@cps.k12.il.us or mail your comments and suggestions to:
CPS Environmental Affairs
125 S. Clark
5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
The Environmental Affairs Team will integrate public and school input into an updated plan.
Goals
- Improve air quality and reduce contribution to climate change
- Save energy and increase use of renewable energy
- Reduce waste and increase recycling
- Increase green space and gardens, improve storm water management
- Improve student, parent, staff, vendor and community engagement
Benefits
- Improves student health
- Protects the environment for future generations
- Saves money (on energy bills, for example) that can be spent on education
- Provides learning opportunities, such as school gardens and renewable energy installations
Resources
View the array of CPS eco-resources listed below:
See how your child's school scored on energy use, recycling, and paper waste in 2009.
Learn how to recycle common materials at CPS schools with this handy chart.
challenges CPS schools to reduce paper use and buy recycled content paper. Find your school to see it stacks up. (Weekly recycling reports are located at the bottom of every school profile page. Click on the Scorecard tab for more details about your school.)
Read about current programs and resources to help your school go green here.
has fun project guides for energy audits, waste audits, and steps to improve energy use at their schools.
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