Nashville schools adopt eco-friendly lifestyle

Nashville schools adopt eco-friendly lifestyle
By Natalia Mielczarek THE TENNESSEAN
September 08, 2009 02:13 AM

Buckets for food waste in the school cafeteria.

Ceramic plates, bowls and mugs instead of Styrofoam.

Energy-efficient light bulbs and geothermal heating and cooling system.

A growing number of Nashville's public and private schools have been spending money on those and other environment friendly projects, going beyond just teaching about them in classrooms. Some already have seen returns on their investment.

"It doesn't do you much good to talk about it if you're not going to give (students) real hands-on activities," said Sharon Force, recycling and environmental awareness coach at Metro's Granbery Elementary, who started a nationally recognized recycling center at the school.

"It's to instill in our children the values of not wasting. But it's also to demonstrate to those who're in a position to make changes that this is so simple that children can do it. "

Metro saves green (cash)

Metro school district has saved almost $3 million in recent years by switching to more efficient lighting, cooling and heating systems and due to other improvements, district officials said.

Private schools have stepped up by setting up recycling bins, reusing paper and incorporating rain gardens into campus landscape. University School of Nashville will save at least $11,000 each year by getting rid of more than 260,000 pieces of Styrofoam tableware in the cafeteria and replacing them with ceramic dishes and metal utensils.

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(Image: DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)
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