The Brylski Company  |  A Full Service PR Firm
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS
  • Press Releases
  • Contact

Sci High helps launch Louisiana Green Schools Challenge

8/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Louisiana Chapter kicked off the 2014 Green Schools Challenge, a program that encourages students across the state to develop sustainability projects for their schools in the name of friendly competition. About 40 people gathered - USGBC Louisiana staff and volunteers, students and public - at a press conference Monday to officially launch this year’s program and honor last year’s second place winner, the New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School (Sci High).  

“We wrote letters to our principals saying that we were concerned about the school’s bad habits,” said senior Celeste Cuellar. “We didn’t like that we were using the Styrofoam in the cafeteria, and we needed to go on a greener path. They listened to us.”
Sci High was one of the 40 schools involved in the Challenge last year, turning their Styrofoam problem into a project. With the help of their teacher, Jason Denlinger, and Facilities Manager Anthony Crim, the “Venture Crew” wrote a grant for a dishwasher, purchased reusable dishware, and reduced the kitchen waste by 60 percent. They otherwise encouraged their fellow students to recycle and reuse, and their accomplishments earned them second place in the statewide competition, as well as a $1,000 check for their school.   “Our mentor, Liz Shephard of LifeCity, guided us – she came every month and said that our goal should be zero waste,” Crim said. “The kids saw that we cared… They showed us that turning on the solar system, putting [waste] in the right place, and turning out the lights actually makes a difference.”   

The Green Schools Challenge engaged 7,000 students in 13 parishes around the state, said Chapter Coordinator Jolie Lemoine. Schools took on projects to do energy audits and water conservation plans (11); recycling and composting programs (15); school gardens (11); and raingardens and outdoor classrooms (12). They raised the funds for the projects and worked with local businesses that could help them fulfill their goals.  

“Participating schools are connected with local green professionals from their community,” Lemoine said, referring to the 37 mentors who came from a variety of sustainability professions and donated their time to assist the students in their endeavors. Christine Jordan, Entergy’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility, announced at the event that the utility will be supporting the Challenge again in its second year, with a $13,000 contribution. In partnership with USGBC Louisiana, Entergy also supplied the solar panels on the school’s roof as part of the New Orleans Solar Schools Initiative (NOSSI) that supplied systems for five (5) schools in 2009.  

USGBC Louisiana is seeking schools interested in participating and mentors to assist with the Challenge. Mentors should bring some expertise in an environmental or sustainability field, and the ability to contribute volunteer time to the project. Mentors will be paired with schools that are interested in projects that relate to the mentors’ expertise.

For more information visit the Green Schools Challenge page on the Chapter’s website: www.usgbclouisiana.org. Deadline for Schools and Mentors to register is Friday, September 12.  

The US Green Building Council, Louisiana Chapter (USGBC Louisiana) is a 501 (c)(3) organization, whose mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, to be more energy efficient and cost effective. We create healthier places to live, work, and learn through education, advocacy, and community outreach.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Arnie Fielkow
    Assessor Erroll Williams
    Audubon
    Baton Rouge
    Ben Franklin
    Ben Franklin Elementary
    Charters
    Conspiracy Theory
    Eastbank Collaborative
    Eastbank-collaborative
    Einstein
    Geri Baloney
    Gnoccs
    Greater New Orleans Collaborative
    Hynes
    IHSNO
    ISL
    Jeffrey Rouse
    Jfk
    Kenner Discovery
    Laca
    Lake Forest
    Lapcs
    Leesville
    Louisiana Caregivers
    Louisiana Policy Institute For Children
    Lusher
    Mandie Landry
    Morris Jeff
    Nbrpa
    Noise Ordinance
    Noise Ordinance
    Nomma
    Opioid
    Paulette Irons
    Sci High
    SLC GNO
    SLC-GNO
    Smithstag
    Stacy Head
    Stacy Head
    Teacher Fair
    Trineday
    University View Academy
    Warren Easton
    Warren Perrin
    Wilson
    Young Audiences

    RSS Feed

© Brylski Company 2019
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS
  • Press Releases
  • Contact