Importance of Going Green

When you defile the pleasant streams And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams And cast your spittle in God's face. ~John Drinkwater Every day we experience weather changes and world catastrophes caused by global warming, erosion, and other ecological changes the Earth has experienced over the past century. Complete rain forests have been destroyed, never to grow back. The planet is dying poisoned by all the toxic waste and pollution we have released upon it. It is time for all of us to do something to save what little are left of the planets resources, to try and give back to the Earth all that it has given to us. For the future generation, we must change our ways so that they have a cleaner world where they can breathe unpolluted air and drink clean water. This attitude is called going green and it is sweeping the planet like wildfire. Recycling is one way to help, using the minimal amount of water ,avoiding the use of aerosol sprays, walking more and driving less, are all ways to go green. Doing these small things wont save the Earth or us from killing ourselves with polluted air, dirty water and the suns ultraviolet rays, but if enough people around the world join these efforts, we can have a positive impact on our environment and give future generations a more stable platform from which to solve future problems.

Taking small steps now, changing old wasteful and harmful habits into more sustainable habits sets the foundations for the shift in mind-set that will ultimately be needed to save the planet. It sets a good example for those around you, family and friends. Over the years human beings have been a major force in the disappearance of many plant and animal species from the face of the Earth. These life forms birds, insects, mammals, and plants have disappeared because of environmental destruction and humankind encroaching on their habitats. Who knows, one of these extinct species may have been the cure for cancer or Alzheimers disease, but well never know because they are gone forever. It is time to start protecting what is left of this planet we call home. Going green is not a choice anymore, it is a responsibility. That is why it is so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet. In fact, many of the things we can do, we actually already do! Just a little thing such as sorting our garbage into what can be recycled, or using less water, and generally consuming fewer resources does not require much effort on our part. There is no great sacrifice involved in going green at home, but its a numbers game, much can be accomplished if many of us join this effort.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR SCHOOL

Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School is located on the outskirts of Coimbatore city. The school premises cover an area of approximately three acres. The front facade faces west and displays a magnificent front entrance with double doors leading into the school. The main entrance leads to a two story concrete building, built in the year 1985.Our school in view of providing better learning environment for the students, right from the start, has sustainably-built structures that provide superior learning environments than offered by traditional buildings. The classrooms have windows that open up to allow fresh air inside, resulting in healthier, happier kids and a better learning environment. In between the pathway leading to the main building and the entrance is a huge Peepal tree which provides shade for the parking lot and the playing kids. The chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves enthral the people around. On the right hand side of the gate, in the corner is a huge, old banyan tree, which greatly improves the aesthetics of the school. Beneath the tree is a small Ganesha temple, which kindles the religious fervour in the minds of young students and staff. The banyan tree is massive not only from outside but it also sends new shoots from its roots, making the tree a tangle of branches, roots and trunks. It towers magnificently over its neighbors. The tree is respected and is considered as sacred by the people in India. It symbolizes Trimurti, with Vishnu as the bark, Shiva as the branches and Brahma as the roots. Indians considered Banyan tree as 'Kalpa Vriksha' the tree that fulfill all your wishes. The mighty Banyan Tree is considered as immortal and has always been the focal point of our school. It is probably the biggest and friendliest of all trees in our school campus. It provides habitat for various kinds of birds and small

animals. Squatting under the tree, viewing the chirping birds and squeaking squirrels gives immense peace akin to meditation. In front of the temple, near the hedge is a cute little pond with lots of lilies, which welcomes the visitors to the office room with a big smile. Opposite to the office room is big play ground. Introducing children to sports is very essential. Sports are important not only for physical fitness and growth of a child, but also for their mental growth. The hidden talents of our students are unleashed through edu-sports. On the pathway from the main gate is a big neem tree with rich lush, green foliage which provides cool, fresh breeze unparalleled to any of the modern electronic air purifiers. Few yards away stands a majestic Peepal tree with its extensive branches and bright, lovely yellow flowers. The School premises of Jayendra with its scenic beauty always plays a key role in kindling environmental awareness in the minds of young students who are the future citizens, as is the motto of the yi, IGBC and Carrier.

I. GREEN ROOF:
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Also known as living roofs, green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air temperatures. Environmental benefits of green roofs:

Reduce heating . Reduce rain water runoff. Natural Habitat Creation. Filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air which helps lower disease rates such as asthma. Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater. Help to insulate a building for sound; the soil helps to block lower frequencies and the plants block higher frequencies. Increase agricultural space.

Plants for roof gardens: Depending on the level of exposure and altitude, a wide range of plants can be grown on a roof garden. The ideal method is to establish some shelter using screens or robust plants, which then creates a microclimate where other plants can survive.

Plants that are tolerant of wind and sun tend to have leaf modifications that result in reduced surface evaporation. Examples are plants with needle-like leaves (grasses or brooms) or very small leaves (escallonia).

Hairy leaves, giving the foliage a grey appearance. Lavenders and santolinas are examples. Waxy cuticles protect plants cordylines from drying out. Windbreak plants which tolerates sun and wind. Dense, hardy evergreens such as Viburnum tinus and junipers can create shelter. Low-growing, ground-cover plants which are sturdy enough to withstand wind.

Dwarf spring-flowering bulbs can also tolerate exposed sites. In our school the roof of the main building will be utilized to create green roof.

ORGANIC MANURE- VERMICOMPOST PIT:

Manures are plant and animal wastes that are used as sources of plant nutrients. They release nutrients after their decomposition. The art of collecting and using wastes from animal, human and vegetable sources for improving crop productivity is as old as agriculture. Manures are the organic materials derived from animal, human and plant residues which contain plant nutrients in complex organic forms. Manures with low nutrient, content per unit quantity have longer residual effect besides improving soil physical properties compared to fertilizer with high nutrient content. Vermiculture means artificial rearing or cultivation of Earthworms and the technology is the scientific process of using them for the betterment of human beings. Vermicompost is the excreta of earthworm, which is rich in humus. Earthworms eat cow dung or farm yard manure along with other farm wastes and pass it through their body and in the process convert it into Vermicompost. Earthworms not only convert garbage into valuable manure but keep the

environment healthy. Conversion of garbage by earthworms into compost and the multiplication of earthworms are simple process. Advantages of Vermicomposting: Vermicompost is an ecofriendly natural fertilizer prepared from

biodegradable organic wastes and is free from chemical inputs. It does not have any adverse effect on soil, plant and environment. It improves soil aeration, texture and tilt thereby reducing soil compaction. It improves water retention capacity of soil because of its high organic matter content. It promotes better root growth and nutrient absorption.

It improves nutrient status of soil-both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients.

In Jayendra we plan to use wastes from the trees, vegetable garden and animal wastes from the aviary to produce organic manure. RAIN WATER HARVESTING: Roof top of the main building, pavement near the main gate and the main building of our school will be used as the catchment area. Conveyance system includes rain gutters and down pipes which collects the rain water from the catchment area to the storage tank. A simple storage system will be installed to meet the daily requirements. ROCK GARDEN: A rock garden is a type of garden that features extensive use of rocks or stones, along with native plants. Rock gardens normally achieve some elevation above the surrounding ground. It can help to make a difficult part of garden more attractive. May be it is under a tree and nothing grows well. Creating a rock garden

can transform these areas into attractive corners. Rocks can be used to add visual interest, to prevent erosion, or just to fill an area that otherwise may be an eyesore. Rock garden plants tend to be small, both because many of the species are naturally small, and so as not to cover up the rocks. Many rock garden landscaping ideas incorporate drought tolerant plants. Some plants are sedum, coreopsis, echinacea (coneflower), lamb's ears, stonecrop and several varieties of ornamental grasses. Foliage should be focussed in designing a rock garden design. Flowers come and go; but foliage serves as a backbone for a composition. An artificial waterfall is a popular addition to a rock garden. Given the right construction these waterfalls look anything but artificial. The Chinese art of Feng Shui also encourages water features like artificial waterfalls to help stimulate the flow of good energy through the area. Rock garden is to come up in Jayendra besides the banyan tree with a water fall in which the water will be circulated. Cactus, Succulents and ornamental grasses will add to the aesthetic beauty of the rock garden. The water body will have water lilies and Koi fishes which would create awareness in the students about this interesting creatures. Koi are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens. The speciality of koi fish is that it responds to the movement of human fingers in water. Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.

AVIARY:
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly.Aviaries often contain plants and shrubbery to simulate a natural environment. Benefits of Aviaries: There are so many benefits to using aviaries with birds. o By creating a more natural environment, we increase the quality of life that we provide to our birds. o The biggest advantage to using an aviary is that it allows your bird safe space to fly. When birds know they can fly, they feel more confident that they can get where they need to go and avoid predators. o When birds are allowed to live together in an aviary, they get the benefit of interacting with other birds on their own terms. o In an aviary, you can use a variety of safe, non-toxic branches as perches, as well as many different kinds of toys, branches, and food sources. Offering many different kinds of toys and woods to chew provides your bird with hours of stimulation. If we expect to have birds for a long time our birds will benefit greatly from this kind of living environment. The aviary will come up near the side entrance besides the kindergarten section in our school. The kids would be excited to see the colourful birds chirping and flying from one branch to the other. The wastes of aviary, which are rich in nutrients, will be used in the organic manure pit.

VEGETABLE GARDEN a small plot or container garden can help children learn basic ecological principles first-hand. Especially in cities, a garden may be a young person's best connection to the natural world. It can be an early opportunity to integrate schooling for sustainability into the curriculum. School gardens enable students to:

Care for other living things. Learn ecological principles. Draw on different learning styles. Experience the joy of nature. Practice leadership skills. Be physically active. Use all their senses.

Waste Disposal: Dust bins of red and green colour will be placed in the school campus. Students will be asked to use green bin for the degradable waste and red bin for the non-degradable waste. The degradable waste will be used in the manure pit. Conserve energy at every opportunity as a cost-effective program for the school and a lesson in energy conservation for the student body. The need for preservation and conservation of natural resources will be stressed lights and fans will be used only when it is absolutely necessary. Every effort would be made for inculcating environmental consciousness among the students. It is education which can make the student conscious and knowledgeable about environment and environmental problems. Moreover awareness is essential for the action. The main purpose of environmental education in our school is to acquaint and sensitize the young minds to the environmental problems. So that they can play their role effectively.

Teachers Report The best hope for learning to live sustainably lies in schooling that is "smart by nature." It includes experiencing the natural world; learning how nature sustains life; nurturing healthy communities; recognizing the implications of the ways we feed and provision ourselves; and knowing well the places where we live, work, and learn. Teachers are in a prime position to be able to weave these basics throughout the curriculum at every grade level. Whether they start with an environmental issue or with fundamental ecological principles, teachers can nurture the knowledge, skills, and values essential to sustainable living. A variety of teaching strategies are particularly appropriate for fostering sustainable living. We promote interdisciplinary instructional methods that are agelevel appropriate; actively engage students in learning in and out of the classroom; involve them in long-term projects; and create an atmosphere of purposeful conversation and reflection about complex issues.