Specific Judging Considerations

To recognize schools that encourage pollution prevention projects on their campuses while increasing the environmental awareness of students and staff; awarded to 1 k-12 school and 1 institution of higher education

Effectiveness in addressing issues relating to air quality; energy, land, or water conservation; hazardous materials management; or solid waste reduction

Participation by the student body, staff, faculty, and community

2009 Winners of Green Schools
Green Schools K-12

Winner – David Lipscomb Elementary School
Davidson County

David Lipscomb Elementary School began several initiatives to become a green elementary school as part of its environmental education approach. They have created a Monarch butterfly garden, raising, tagging and releasing more than 700 Monarchs from the campus – three of which were recovered in Mexico. The school has been designated Monarch Waystation #1056 by Monarch Watch. Additionally, the school has created a new outdoor classroom for students, including an amphitheater, math patio, a human sundial, weather station, frog pond, birding equipment, rainwater collection system and an area for vegetables, butterflies, herbs, bulbs and Tennessee native plants. In addition to providing a public, 24-hour recycling receptacle in the parking lot, the school also recycles plastics, aluminum, paper, cardboard and does their own composting.

Due to their many accomplishments, David Lipscomb Elementary School has achieved the highest level of certification possible for the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Program and succeeded in 2008 in becoming the only K-4 school in Tennessee to reach "performer" status.

Green Schools Higher Education
Lipscomb University – Davidson County
The sole mission of Lipscomb University's Institute for Sustainable Practice is to advance the practice of sustainability through education, research, training and service to the community and the world. Nineteen graduate students have enrolled in Tennessee's first academic program in sustainability and undergraduate students are enrolling in the new sustainability major and minor studies offered. Lipscomb is one of only 66 schools offering environmental and sustainability degrees in the country and the only one in the state of Tennessee.

Lipscomb University also is turning into a green campus. Their last three buildings constructed on campus possess a geo-thermal temperature control system, which in turn is expected to cost between 52 and 62 percent less in energy and maintenance expenses than it did prior to renovation. Other sustainable practices in the new construction include native plants being incorporated into the landscaping; using building materials with recycled content and purchasing such materials from vendors less than 500 miles away; non-toxic, green housekeeping products are being used in building maintenance; the building uses energy efficient lighting, motion sensors that turn off lights when the rooms are not in use and large windows that allow more natural light; building products that emit lower levels of chemicals into the air were used throughout the construction process; advanced air filters were installed to reduce mold and make indoor air quality healthier; compressed plumbing joints with non-soldered seals make the water running through the pipes even healthier than codes require; new classroom and new residential spaces use low-flow faucets, toilets and sinks; and bike racks were installed to encourage less driving off-campus by students.