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Include Green Schools in the Stimulus Package!

November 21, 2009

Subject:

Dear Representative

January 13, 2009

As a resident of your district, I am writing to ask you to support green schools, education, and job training programs in the economic stimulus package. Specifically, for Congress to include H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. Twice last year the House passed this legislation with bipartisan support – on June 4, 2008, and again on September 26, 2008 as part of Chairman Obey’s Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act, H.R. 7110.

H.R. 3021 authorizes the Secretary of Education to distribute nearly $7 billion to our school districts according to a need-based formula to upgrade our nation’s K-12 schools and make them more energy efficient, healthy, and high performing.

Greening America’s schools must be a priority for three critical reasons:

1.	It will help stimulate a new clean energy economy, creating millions of new jobs in green technology and energy-efficient school construction. Between 2006 and 2008 school construction accounted for $80 billion, and the energy efficiency industry now employs 8.5 million. Furthermore, greening America’s schools is an investment in education and innovation – the best investment that can be made to build long-term economic growth and build the foundations of a green economy. An investment in educational services will generate significantly more jobs (23.1 jobs per $1 million) than spending on public infrastructure or tax cuts – and nearly five times as many jobs as spending on the oil and gas sector.

2.	It will help strengthen America’s global competitiveness by providing safer, healthier, and better overall learning environments. America’s schools average over 40 years in age and 60% have major building features in disrepair. Poor indoor air quality, poor lighting, and other energy-related issues are inhibiting students’ ability to focus and learn. This bill will provide high caliber education and training, inspiring students to tackle the green economy and pave the way for new energy efficient technologies. Overall, green schools have been conservatively estimated to increase student test scores by 5%.

3.	It will help schools become more energy efficient – saving schools enough money to hire two additional teachers – while protecting our environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The average green school saves 585,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and typically utilizes 33% less energy and 32% less water. A green school costs less than 2% more than conventional schools – or about $3 per square foot – but provides financial benefits that are 20 times as large.

We respectfully request your support for green schools, education and job training, by including H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act in the economic stimulus package. Your help in this effort will help strengthen our economy, achieve energy independence, further climate change mitigation, and secure a clean energy economy, giving Americans – especially future generations – hope for the future. Thank you for your continued dedication to our young people and the future of our society.

Thank you,

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