Our Work
Through our educational resources, professional learning networks, and industry-recognized tools, we equip supporters to educate students about global sustainability and deepen learning by acting in their communities.
Find tools to act at your school
We provide tools, platforms, and certifications to help schools act and measure the impact they are making on people and the planet.
Green Apple Day of Service
Green Apple Day of Service inspires communities around the world to bring sustainability into their preK-12 schools. A school’s event is an opportunity to provide students hands-on experience with sustainability, strengthening civic leadership, environmental literacy, and project management skills.
Arc in Schools
Arc is free to use, and it communicates all of a school building’s sustainability data in one easy-to-read score and graphic: energy, water, waste, transportation, and air quality. Direct integration with building management platforms provides ease of use for facilities managers, and surveys and graphs within the platform provide data-rich learning opportunities for students.
LEED for Schools
LEED is a globally-recognized rating system for buildings and communities, providing third-party verification that sustainability goals were set and achieved. Schools use LEED to demonstrate responsible management of their communities’ resources and indicate leadership in addressing human health, community sustainability, and climate change.
Educate for sustainability
We create educational resources for professionals across education, government, and building industry sectors.
Green Classroom Professional
The Green Classroom Professional Course helps teachers and school staff learn to recognize, implement, and communicate practices that keep a classroom healthy and help teachers and students be focused, alert and ready to learn. Get the full picture of maintaining sustainable learning spaces and incorporating the environment into student learning.
Learning Lab
Learning Lab is the online source for K-12 educators looking to bring sustainability to life in their classroom with standards-aligned lessons, activities and resources that encourage student leadership, sustainability literacy and real-world action. The subscription features over 600 hands-on lessons from respected K-12 sustainability curriculum designers and educators.
Building Learners
The Building Learners program is a complete, data-driven package that uses your school’s eco footprint to bring STEM concepts to life. Teachers and their students work alongside green building professionals to sharpen their analysis and problem-solving skills and quantify their impact on the school’s sustainability performance.
Connect to professional networks
We train and convene networks of peers in-person and virtually, to learn from each other and further their work to create green schools for all students.
Green Schools Conference & Expo
GSCE is the only national event to bring together all the changemakers involved in making green schools a reality: people who lead, operate, build and teach in schools. Accelerate your work by connecting with and learning from a community of like-minded leaders.
Online Courses and Events
Through educational courses and events, professionals who work in and for schools grow their expertise to advance the green school movement. Find monthly green school webcasts, event listings, and online courses to enhance your work by learning from experts in the field.
School System Sustainability Leaders
The School Sustainability Leaders Network is the only professional learning community in the country that supports K-12 district level staff working to expand sustainability programs that result in greener, more resilient and healthy schools. Learn and connect through fellowships, events, and an online social network.
Make the case for green schools
We dig into the most pressing topics facing schools as they deepen their work to become greener--including facilities operations, environmental health practices, and sustainability education--to give policymakers and school leaders what they need to make smart decisions for greener schools.
Policymaker Resources
The Center for Green Schools provides clear and research-backed recommendations for policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels who want to support health and sustainability within their communities’ schools.
Community Advocacy
We unite and empower individuals to advocate for greener schools. Community members with passion and know-how ask for our help in advocating for issues pertinent to their school or district and get connected with their local USGBC network doing the work on the ground.
Resources to Educate and Communicate
Make the case for green schools in your community by using and sharing our presentations, videos and reports.