Though the Philadelphia school district is drawing national concern for our sweep of school closures set for the end of this year, some schools within the district are garnering more positive national attention for their efforts to green their campuses. Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School was honored as a green ribbon school in recognition of their efforts to create a sustainable school campus.
The news of Greenfield Elementary's green recognition comes as the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) puts the finishing touches on their big greening project, The Big Green Block. The Big Green Block is a community run and maintained green space. The Big Green Block includes surrounds and incorporates the Kensington High School for the Performing and Creative Arts, which was the first school building to achieve Platinum LEED Certification. The school uses less energy than any other school in the district and is capped by an expansive green roof. Naked Philly reports that property values surrounding the Big Green Block went up significantly since the inception of the project in 2009.
South Philly High School is also seeking to follow the green school trend: their recently launched Projexity campaign, which seeks to crowdfund a green roof and other sustainable improvements is going strong with 45 days left to raise $21,880.
· After successful first phase, NKCDC's Big Green Block thinks bigger [flying kite]
· Center city elementary school greens its way to national honor [The Notebook]
· Can South Philly High Crowdfund a Hippy-Dippy Roof Garden? [Curbed Philly]