20% of the American population spends several hours at school each day. Many of the schools they attend are inefficient in a number of ways resulting in unwarranted operational costs and are a health hazard to both students and teachers.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Clinton Foundation along with Earth Day Network are behind the National Green Schools Campaign which has been very successful. The objective is to "green" all of America's K–12 schools within a generation. There are various methods being adopted in meeting the goal, some of them being the green school reform and green makeovers across the country for schools. A green school is conducive to learning while saving precious resources, energy, and money. The program when implemented will result in improved student and teacher health, test scores, school operation costs, teacher turnover and overall environment.

Some simple methods of greening a school can be immediately implemented:

• Make sure all electronics are switched off and unplugged when not in use and especially at the end of the working day. This can result in up to 75% saving in electricity for power electronics.
• Change to LED Exit signs which not only use less electrical energy but last much longer.
• Students can lead a healthier lifestyle by walking to school in groups, under adult supervision.
• Use reusable containers for school lunches and pass up non–biodegradable plastic packaging. Avoid waste by bringing no more food than will be consumed.

These are small measures that go a long way toward making a school more eco–friendly.