Schools produce lots of things – honor roll students, star athletes, influential teachers and some of the largest amounts of waste. Educational settings have been known to waste energy, food, water and paper on a daily basis. Thanks to the ongoing green movement, many schools now understand their impact on the environment and how it can be improved. Today’s eco-friendly schools are sustainable, energy efficient and better for the planet. With baby steps and big efforts, any school can transform into an eco-friendly environment and become an example for other institutions. Here are 50 online resources for eco-friendly school:

Environmental News

These environmental news sites and blogs will keep students and educators up to date on sustainability, energy efficiency and other environmental issues affecting schools.

1. The Daily Green.
   The Daily Green is your one-stop source for green news and sustainable practices you can try at your school.
2. Grist.
   Environmental news site, Grist, discusses environmental sustainability, climate change and living green.
3. E Magazine.
   E Magazine is a bimonthly publication that focuses on environmental news and resources for green living.
4. Planetsave.
   Planetsave provides going-green tips and environmental news to keep you up to date.
5. U.S. Green Building Council.
   Learn about how your school could get LEED certified and read news about other green school buildings.
6. EcoEarth.Info.
   EcoEarth.Info pulls environmental news stories from the world’s leading newspapers, in addition to an Earth blog.
7. Good Environmental News Blog.
   This blog focuses primarily on good green news and green design tips everyone should know about.
8. EcoLocalizer.
   Here you’ll find information about climate change, city planning, endangered animals and other environmental news happening around the world.
9. Environmental Graffiti.
   This online environmental magazine is free and could be incorporated into just about any classroom setting or discussion.
10. Blog ENN.
    Find interesting articles about recycling, green building and green energy, here.

Green College Initiatives

With the help of these green initiatives, your college could be on its way to becoming more eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable.

11. TreeHugger.
    This blog has going-green guides for back to school, dorm living and commuting that all students can follow.
12. It’s Getting Hot in Here.
    This blog is written by and for young environmentalists, who want to learn about climate change and green initiatives.
13. ecoAmerica.
    This non-profit organization promotes large-scale engagement programs for groups, including colleges, to build awareness and take environmental action.
14. President’s Climate Commitment.
    See how you can get your school involved in this commitment to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from campuses and promote environmental research and education.
15. Green Report Card.
    See how green your college is, where it needs to improve and how you can get involved on campus.
16. GreenStudentU .
    This sites teaches college students about the green movement and eco-lifestyle choices that will make a difference.
17. College Green Magazine.
    Get tips and insight from this online publication that focuses on the environmental issues of Southeast Ohio and its local college campus, Ohio University.
18. Sustainability at Harvard.
    Take some environmental sustainability pointers from the oldest university in the country and bring them to your school.
19. Inside Higher Ed .
    Check out this college news site’s latest stories and their environmental blog, Getting to Green.
20. Focus the Nation.
    This national board provides opportunities for Millenials, ages 18-28, to work with business leaders to build a clean energy economy on a national and international level.

Green K-12 School Initiatives

Primary and secondary schools can improve their sustainability and make a lasting impact on students with these green initiatives.

21. Earthday Network.
    Teachers and administrators can find environmental lesson plans, books and education grant programs, as well as resources to green your school on this helpful site.
22. Go Green Initiative.
    The goal of this site is to teach students about environmental science and sustainability, while rewarding environmentally responsible behavior.
23. Learn a Little Green.
    Here, teachers will find ways to plan a green school year, like start an environmental club and green decorating tips.
24. FarmToSchool .
    Check out the health and environmental benefits of Farm to School served meals that come from local farms in your area.
25. 
    Green Power Network.
    Learn about green power markets and organizations that serve your state on the U.S. Department of Energy’s site.
26. U.S. Green Schools Foundation.
    This non-profit corporation encourages schools to implement environmentally sustainable and energy efficient practices for grades K-12.
27. Green Schools Initiative.
    Check out this environmental initiative started by parents, which aims to transform the school environment and improve sustainability.
28. Alliance to Save Energy.
    Alliance to Save Energy’s green schools program provides news and resources for students to make a difference in their school’s wasteful energy use.
29. Eco-Schools.
    This program for environmental management and certification urges schools to implement sustainable development education and teach students about green actions.
30. Cool School Challenge.
    Take this environmental agency’s challenge of getting students, teachers and school districts to reduce their carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions now.
31. Sustainable Schools Project.
    Discover new ways to teach students about building responsible, sustainable communities and how environmental sustainability can be implemented into any type of curricula.
32. Energy Smart Schools.
    Here, you’ll learn how to plan, finance, design and build and maintain an green school, and an energy efficiency curriculum to try out at your school.
33. Solar Schools – Brighter Future.
    This project has helped schools around the world implement various forms of renewable energy that save money and teach students the importance of sustainability.
34. High Performance Schools.
    See what it takes to be a high-performance school building and why it’s valuable to have green buildings, here.
35. The Green Flag Program.
    Check out this educational initiative to advance your school’s environmental behaviors and become an example to other schools.

Recycling at School

Recycling is one of the easiest ways for schools to become more eco-friendly and give back to Mother Nature.

36. Recycle City.
    Recycle City is an interactive game that uses a simulated city to teach students about the importance of recycling and what happens to garbage.
37. Earth911.
    This site discusses recycling a variety of items and a handy search tool that finds the nearest recycling center to you.
38. RecycleWorks .
    RecycleWorks encourages and shows students and teachers how to start a school recycling and waste reduction program.
39. RecycleBank.
    This program rewards schools for implementing an environmental program, by converting RecycleBank members’ point donations into real money for schools.
40. Bring Recycling.
    This is one of the oldest non-profit recyclers in the nation, and its goal is to teach people of all ages about recyclable and waste reduction.
41. Environmental Kids Club.
    Here you’ll find crossword puzzles, games and explanations of recycling and garbage on this EPA site for elementary students.
42. High School Environmental Center.
    Read about hazardous waste, water waste and recycling on this site made for high schoolers.
43. Cornell Waste Management Institute.
    Learn about composting, sewage sludge and interesting facts about garbage and recycling, here.

Environmental Clubs

These environmental clubs give students an outlet to discuss environmental issues and make their school more eco-friendly.

44. Environmental Club Network.
    This site will connect you with other environmental clubs in your area and around the world.
45. Sierra Club .
    See if your school or class will join the Sierra Club, so you can participate in the outings program and start making a difference as an environmental activist group.
46. Earth Team Environment.
    This site gives students advice on starting an environmental group, fundraising opportunities and projects to try.
47. Kids F.A.C.E..
    Get your teacher and classmates to start your own chapter of the free Kids F.A.C.E. Club, so you can explore environmental issues and participate in green projects as a school.
48. Student Environmental Action Coalition.
    See what this youth and student-run national organization has to say about environmental injustices and taking action through grassroots activism.
49. EE Organizations and Projects.
    This site will help you connect to a NAAEE (North American Association for Environmental Education) organization, affiliate or project in your area.
50. I.C.E.Y. H.O.P.E..
    The International Cooperation of Environmental Youth is an international environmental organization that teaches young people about environmental issues and resources to make a difference in their hometown.