Green Education

Presented by

Dr.R.V.Mahendra Gowda
Principal

VSB Engineering College Karur 639 111, Tamil Nadu

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Introduction
Green education is a buzz word in this modern era of green engineering and technologies. The go-green approach has permeated into all spheres and education is one amongst such prominent sectors. As it a relatively new concept, many educators and stake holders in education may not be aware of what exactly is the green education. In that perspective this article presents salient features of the green education and lays foundation for broad-line thinking and greater promotion of the concept of green education.

Green education is simply known as an education with greener approach, which employs green technologies for sustainable development and progress of mankind.
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 Green Education refers to environmental-friendly and sustainable education. It shall be conducted in a campus that is full of greenery, has natural ambience, promoting thoughts in the minds of students and faculty members, to be transformed into innovative ideas for sustainable education.

The green education shall make use of green teaching tools and techniques, green computing, green IT and green communication systems, which are energy efficient, most effective, sustainable and have minimal or no impact on the environment.

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The Green Education includes the following aspects:

Green campus
Green buildings and practices Green classrooms

Green teaching tools and techniques

Students and Teachers with semblance for green technologies

Green events, projects, research and innovation

Green jobs and training opportunities
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Green Campus
A Green Campus in a higher education community includes several elements that facilitate improving energy efficiency, conserving resources and enhancing environmental quality by educating the students to practice sustainable methods and creating healthy living and learning environments.

Elements of Green Campus

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The Green Campus shall focus on climate protection through:

Reusable energy, use it twice instead of dissipating into the environment Decreasing the quantum of heating Reduction in CO2 emissions Power conservation Procuring environmental-friendly hardware Running the hardware and related appliances at lower clock frequency Optimising cooling Recycling the wastes generated Promoting eco-systems and environmental protection Adopting green and renewable energy systems
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Green Buildings and Green Practices

Green buildings have been around for thousands of years even if no one would have called them that until recently. The Romans made use of what we call passive solar techniques to keep their buildings cool in the hot Italian sun. Our buildings need to utilize energy and water in a much more efficient way. Green buildings must depict the utilisation of green energy through the use of solar panels, and energy conservation through energy efficient devices. Fortunately, this spreading realization has been accompanied by a host of new technologies and building techniques. Perhaps the most urgent issue is adoption of green technology for energy, which includes the development of alternative fuels, new means of generating energyNCGET 2011 22-23 Sept. 2011 and energy efficiency.

 The need to green Colleges and Schools is clear. Colleges and schools spend huge sums on energy each year, many spending more on energy than school supplies.
A growing body of research indicates that indoor air quality has a pronounced effect on the health, well-being and productivity of occupants. This is particularly true of young people who are more sensitive to pollutants. Improving ventilation and the heating/cooling systems can help prevent asthma and sickness as well as increase student performance. A healthy environment and indoor air quality need to be considered vital components of any green education system.
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Green buildings with solar panels and energy efficient systems

Green Classroom
Green Classrooms are those in which the faculty members and students practice to follow the following greener approaches:

Use energy efficient lighting systems inside classrooms. The construction of classrooms shall be planned in such a way that each classroom shall receive a maximum natural light. Practice e-learning and virtual classroom teaching techniques and smart classrooms to the extent possible. Use environmental-friendly computer systems and other teaching aids such as LCD, OHP, multimedia tools and hardware, which are energy efficient. Use dustless chalk to reduce air pollution within the classroom. Turn off water faucets tightly, after use and whenever not used. Unplug electronic devices at the end of the work or towards closing of the day. Turn off lights when leaving a classroom or conference hall or office, etc.
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 Go for paperless communication and correspondence wherever possible. Use both sides of paper to reduce its consumption, leading to conservation of natural resources. Use recycled paper whenever possible to reduce environmental pollution. Use scrap paper for art projects and practice work, for creating a sustainable classroom. Use environmentally-safe cleaning supplies (Using non-toxic cleaning supplies ensure healthier buildings and healthier occupants.) Ban plastic water bottles. (Encourage students and staff to bring in reusable water bottles, and refill them from the drinking water throughout the day.) Decorate your classroom with plants and flowers. Adopt-a-Plant to help purify indoor air.
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Green Teaching Tools and Techniques

Promoting Green Education from childhood

The Go-Green approach in the Classroom shall include green teaching instructional tools. It promotes the use of smart teaching techniques that consume low energy, use of eco-friendly writing materials such as recyclable white paper, dustless chalk, marker pens with washable inks, etc. The use of energy efficient hardware such as computers, LCD, OHP and other equipment will lead to greener approach in teaching. Classes shall be conducted at times outside the classroom in an eco-environment so that students shall think naturally to be creative and innovative. NCGET 2011 22-23 Sept. 2011

Outdoor learning and engagement with environmental issues

Green spaces are perfect surroundings for outdoor learning, where engaging with nature can lead to enhanced connectedness to nature and increased environmental knowledge 'green education.
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A systems thinking is one of the consequences of our guiding principle, "Nature Is Our Teacher".

Teaching core ecological concepts

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Green Education is an important aspect, which every educator, student and others involved at all levels of education, have to appreciate and take steps for its promotion. Green education leads to environmental protection and sustainable development. Green education, also known as Environmental education, is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action. Hence it is strongly recommended that every educational Institution shall practice some or the other approach to make the education system green and long-living.
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THANK YOU

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