Radnor Middle School in Wayne, PA and Springside Chestnut HIll Academy in Philadelphia are among 78 schools nationwide named “Green Ribbon Schools” by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
The award recognizes schools that “save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement,” according to the program’s web page.
The original Radnor Middle School was demolished in 2007 and replaced by a “green building” that features geothermal wells; a "green" roof with plants that absorb storm water, keep the building cool and give off oxygen; motion sensors that adjust or turn off classroom lights; carbon dioxide monitors that release more fresh air if the level is too high; and geothermal heating and cooling.
“This honor is a testament to the commitment of the entire Radnor community to environmentally conscious living,” says Radnor Township School District superintendent Dr. Linda Grobman.
When the school was nominated for Green Ribbon honors, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy president Dr. Priscilla Sands cited "our powerful green 
footprints as an institution dedicated to sustainability. From our environmental education program that begins with our youngest students, to our fully engaged community of faculty, students and parents who continually strive to making our school as green as it can be, to our rooftop solar arrays, rainwater recycling, composting system and more, SCH Academy truly lives ‘green’ every day.”
"These Green Ribbon Schools are giving students and educators what they need to maximize learning and minimize risks like asthma and other respiratory illnesses, ensuring that no child is burdened by pollution in or around their school," says Envirnomental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
