Fifty for Fifty: USGBC Launches Nationwide Green Schools Effort

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) kicked off its "Fifty for Fifty" initiative working with state lawmakers in all 50 states to promote green school buildings.

The Council's goal is for every state legislature in the nation to have its own caucus or working group of lawmakers advancing green schools for kids.

Inspired by the successes of the Congressional Green Schools Caucus, the initiative will build on widespread participation in USGBC's LEED for schools program, which has over 1,000 green schools registered across the U.S.

"For students and families across the country, more green schools ultimately mean more effective educational facilities, significant operating costs savings, a better environment, and healthier communities," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC.

"The caucuses will add the significant weight of their voices to this critically important effort.

If we're successful at creating green schools for every child, no matter his or her economic bracket, we'll raise a generation of smart, healthier, inspired kids."

"Green school buildings and a supporting curriculum around their economic, environmental and societal benefits will prepare our students of today to live in tomorrow's resource constrained world.

Energy conservation will be a part of daily life in the future.

It's not enough to tell students that fact.

We need to give them multiple opportunities to learn how to be more environmentally conscious and why it matters so much," said the Honorable Kenneth Plum, Virginia.