Green Tips #10 – Starting Your School’s Green Journey

By Jason Giovannettone, Director of Climate and Sustainability for the Sisters of Mercy

Many of us want to make our schools more sustainable, but it can be hard to know where to start. In my next few editions of Green Tips, I will walk you through practical steps for assessing and improving your school’s environmental footprint using the framework of the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program—an initiative that helps schools of all sizes take meaningful climate action.

Even if your school has already taken steps toward sustainability, this structured approach can help you organize, evaluate, and expand your efforts for lasting impact.

Step 1: Form or Expand Your Green Team

The first step is to create a student-led Green Team with representatives from all grade levels who are eager to make a difference. If your school already has a Green Team, consider inviting faculty, staff (including your principal), parents, and community members to join. A diverse team will strengthen your efforts and extend your influence beyond the school.

Step 2: Conduct a Sustainability Audit

Before launching any new initiatives, take stock of your current practices through a sustainability audit. School-focused audits typically assess energy and water use, waste habits, transportation, food, and more. The NWF Eco-Schools USA Environmental Review Checklist is a great starting point—it offers simple yes/no questions to help identify priority areas for improvement. The Green Team can also reach out to staff members responsible for each area to gather specific information.

Next steps will be shared in future articles—stay tuned!

This article is part of our monthly Green Tips series. Read more Green Tips here.