T is for Triple Bottom Line

Ron McNair Elementary School on Yanceyville Road in Browns Summit has several factors that make it an ideal school for teaching children how to decrease their carbon footprint and to have sustainable practices. To name a few:

"The 88,900 square-foot school building features sustainable materials, natural lighting in hallways, solar panels for water heating, light sensors, a light-colored roof to reduce heat gain, an integrated fresh-air system, sun shades for large windows and low-flow plumbing fixtures. All classrooms have access to outdoor learning environments. Vegetation has been planted to grow up green screens that will provide shade over outdoor patio areas. Additionally, the art and science labs are equipped with movable exterior wall systems, allowing the classrooms to literally open up to the outdoors when weather permits and facilitate an indoor/outdoor classroom space."*

This state-of-the-art learning environment is an example of what is known in environmental (green) glossaries  as triple bottom line. The triple bottom line concept asserts that for environmental practices to be sustainable, they must be aligned with 1) economic prosperity, 2) environmental quality, and 3) social equity (reference). McNair Elementary does just that; the sustainable practices contribute positively to the environment, they are not cost prohibitive, they are "for all," (open to any child living in the district). Therefore, for "T" day on ABC Wednesday, "T" is for triple bottom line. We hope that the children who attend this fabulous school generate even more ideas for protecting the earth's limited resources.

See GDP's A-S Go Green Greensboro entries here.

 

* Robert Nemitz

Comments

[Roger Green]

Yes, a lot of our businesses have a social component and are looking at the triple bottom line. EXCELLENT!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

[Lea]

I learned a new term - Triple Bottom Line!
Let's hope our children and grandchildren do better than we have protecting our environment.
Lea
Lea's Menagerie

[Leslie]

Love the idea of outdoor learning environments! I used to take my students outside to the field sometimes to teach them how to use the five senses to write a descriptive paragraph.

Leslie
abcw team

[annkitsuetchin]

we are an enviro school, and we teach out kids , yesterday, I got them to do my worm farm.