Eco-Friendly School : My ideas – Aryan Pandey

“Modern technology owes ecology an apology”

Unfortunately, this quote depicts nothing other than reality. Believing the studies, nearly 80% of human brain develops before 10 years of age. Therefore, our childhood is something that we carry throughout our life along with us in one form or the other. Whether it be about memories or lessons, childhood never ceases to fascinate us. An important aspect of childhood and teenage is schooling. The benches, playground, chalk, dusters, blackboards all of them stay with us throughout our life. Every object of our school, in one way or the other has a memory linked to us. In this era of severe environmental issues, we need to make schools unofficial brand ambassadors of environmentalism.
Schools should be maintained in such a way, that the students could learn to live a sustainable life. This cannot be done by including few extra books about environment. The school in itself should exemplifythe very thought of sustainable development. This way each and every article within the premises will convey a message. Making eco-friendly school and making a school eco-friendly both are two different tasks. The former can be done when the school is yet to be constructed and the latter can be done on a pre-existing school.
Let’s discuss the former first. While constructing a new school, the first choice should be of appropriate building material and architecture. Nowadays, buildings are being constructed on the patterns of European culture, even the choice of building material is being done in the same way. The design of the building, is prioritised to be attractive, instead of sustainable and suitable. The classroom should be constructed so as to allow maximum sunlight to enter it. The building material also should be chosen to be eco-friendly as for example using sun-dried bricks instead of cemented bricks.
Now coming to the latter and the important point of discussion, “how to make a school eco-friendly?” This act requires a firm cooperation and coordination among the members of the school family. The main points to be focused on include :
(i) Water Management
(ii) Reducing Energy Consumption
(iii) Solid-waste management
(iv) Minimizing materialistic needs
Let’s discuss each point in a little more detail.

A. Water Management
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Water management in itself is a great and highly effective task to do. The task of water management, can be classified, broadly under two heads –

(a) Rainwater Harvesting
(b) Wastewater Management

Now let’s expand these points. Rainwater harvesting is a term familiar to us all. Often, it is the topic of art competitions or speeches, etc. But, on the ground zero, it is totally unknown to maximum of us. The reason behind this being, lack of practical knowledge. Rainwater harvesting is not a very hectic task to do. Several simple models can be implemented and installed in the school campus. One can use tin sheets and bamboos to create sloping roof on the terrace. Pipes can be used to collect water in containers. Nearly 3 containers can be connected in decreasing order according to their capacity. The roof pipe will be linked to the first largest container, then second linked to first and then third linked to the second. In rainy seasons, we can easily collect about 2000 L of water with a single and simple plant. If the school campus is large, easily 4 to 5 plants can be installed. This way, for nearly 6 months in a year, the school campus can meet nearly all its water requirements through these plants alone. Further, the harvested water can be treated by passing them through RO systems and can also be used for drinking purpose.
Next comes the topic of waste water management. Water is wasted in several ways, and the wastage can be curbed easily. Firstly, the waste water released from RO systems installed in school can be stored and can be used for purposes like washing hands etc. This will require zero effort and minimal expenditure. These simple steps will lead towards water independent school campus to a great extent.

B. Reducing Energy Consumption
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After water management next comes reducing energy consumption. Our day to day lifestyle, is slowly and gradually pushing us into a tunnel of dependency. Energy consumption per head is rising continuously . And thus, it is very very essential to put a check on a daily energy usage.
The classrooms should be designed in a way to allow maximum sunlight to enter them. This will reduce use of lights during daytime. Secondly, the school premises should avoid the use of air-conditioners as far as possible. The air-conditioners chill a room and heat up the entire climate. It is environmental, poetic as well as social injustice to use air-conditioners. Apart from this, the classes should be conducted according to the weather or geographical location of that particular area. As for example, if it is a sunny winter morning, then, instead of sitting in the classroom, shivering with heaters on, it is much better to conduct classes under open sunlight. On a cloudy , humid day, classes can be conducted in open air instead of sitting and sweating in the classroom. Rabindranath Tagore, has written a lot about this issue. He emphasises on linking education with the local geography and climate of the place. He even exemplified his work himself. Tagore’s Shanti Niketan exemplifies the linkage of climate and education. To your surprise, Tagore’s Santiniketan is recognised as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It has gifted several jewel minds to the world, including Indira Gandhi, Noble Laureate Amartya Sen, Satyajit Ray and hundreds other. School premises should have facilities like open libraries and open classrooms for students. Instead of using generators, solar panels could be used as alternative for electricity. The use of generators should be restricted only up to areas which require 24×7 electric supply.
Another aspect which requires attention is the uniform. The uniform which is common to approx all the schools is worthless and simply nonsense. This is nothing, but blind imitation of the European Culture . The tie which students wear even in global South is designed to keep the body warm in cold European climate. But, here we wear tie even in extremely hot and humid summers , just for the sake of limitation. This illogical dressing not only hampers our tradition, but also reduces our efficiency towards work.

C. Solid-Waste Management
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Next comes the issue of solid waste management. Solid waste management is not a single step process. It requires a synchronised cooperation among each and every member of the school. The first and foremost step towards solid waste management is segregation. Separate dustbins should be made for biodegradable and nonbiodegradable wastes. Students should be made aware of what these two categories of waste are. The nonbiodegradable waste can be given to rag pickers or “kabaadi-walaas”. The money obtained on selling the nonbiodegradable waste can be used to make compost from the biodegradable waste. Processing the biodegradable waste into compost is not a very big deal. School administration can establish contact with such organisations that help and train people to make compost. This compost can be used in school play ground , gardens, etc. Also these activities , or rather these scientific activities will provide a very good experimental learning environment for the students. After all, learning by seeing and doing is far better than learning by reading. This way, school campus can be transformed into a zero-waste campus. And will never cease to inspire the students throughout their life.

D. Minimising Materialistic Needs.
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Another aspect which requires attention is reducing our needs and material usage. Students should be encouraged to cover their books and notebooks with waste newspapers instead of buying several metres of plastic roll. The school should try their best and encourage students to use refills, instead of buying new pens. In this era of materialistic modernisation, students should be driven more and more towards simplicity. A healthy environment shall be created, in which a student who is using the same school back for consecutive five years should not be mocked at by fellow students. Instead, they should be encouraged and appreciated. Teachers should applaud students who are you same school bag, lunchbox, etc for more than three years. These simple acts will transform each and every student of that school into a boon for the mankind. Students should be taught that, it’s not how frequently you buy new things, that makes you a hero. It’s how long you use your existing things , that makes you a hero.

The students of such a school will be in love with mother nature and will always impart best values in them. Nature teaches us harmony, love and peace. Each and every member of that school will definitely bless the cursed mankind in near future. Approaching the end, with due respect, I would like to quote Rene Dubos, as he has rightly said,
“Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment”

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