Dear Coordinator,

Thank you so much for your participation in the Madison County Green Schools Program. As part of the enrollment process, schools are required to complete the Benchmarking Survey below. The survey has several questions that relate to your school building's structure, grounds, and maintenance practices. It may be helpful to complete these questions with a custodian or member of your Facilities Maintenance staff. Please note that this survey is only required of schools that:

1. Have never participated in the Program previously
2. Have undergone major structural upgrades, changes, or additions to their building
3. Have not completed the Benchmarking Survey in the previous five years

All returning participants and new enrollees must complete the Goals and Interests Survey in order to receive their yearly stipend. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Lisa Rogers
Green Schools Coordinator
lrrogers@madisoncountyil.gov
618-296-4606

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* 1. School Information

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* 2. Coordinator Information

Does your school currently...

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* 3. Promote car-pooling, walking, or biking to school?

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* 4. Have a no-idling policy for vehicles?

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* 5. Have a garden or other natural area specifically designed to benefit local wildlife or used for education?

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* 6. Maintain grounds (i.e. mow the lawns etc) during morning or afternoon when students aren’t present?

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* 7. Minimize the amount of fertilizers and follow a conservative watering schedule?

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* 8. Have energy efficient windows and/or doors?

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* 9. Have any sort of green building certification (i.e. LEED)?

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* 10. Use snow and ice melt that has a low environmental impact?

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* 11. Have a green or white reflective roof?

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* 12. Have permeable paving in parking lots or sidewalks? (Water passes through, rather than runs over.)

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* 13. Turn off outdoor lights during the daytime?

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* 14. Have waterless urinals, low-flow or dual flush toilets?

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* 15. Use automatic faucets?

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* 16. Utilize low-flow or other aeration devices on faucets?

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* 17. Post reminders to reduce water use?

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* 18. Maintain working drinking fountains?

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* 19. Regularly check and stop water leaks?

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* 20. Capture rain water or other gray water for reuse?

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* 21. Use environmentally safe cleaners?

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* 22. Use low VOC paints, floor waxes, and other chemicals?

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* 23. Regularly check/repair damaged floor and/or ceiling tile?

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* 24. Use hard surface flooring instead of carpet?

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* 25. Sweep outside sidewalks clean and use “walk-off mats” at all major entries?

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* 26. Conduct an annual green school (energy, waste, lighting, water or other) audit?

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* 27. Use fluorescent, compact fluorescent, or LED light bulbs?

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* 28. Use energy-saving devices (i.e. motion sensors, sleep modes, timers etc.) on equipment?

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* 29. Post reminders to turn off lights and computers if energy-saving devices are not available (i.e. a “Turn-it-Off” campaign)?

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* 30. Remove bulbs from fixtures in areas that have more light than necessary?

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* 31. Utilize natural or day-lighting over electrical lighting when possible?

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* 32. Have solar control window films that reduce heat gain in the summer and add insulation in the winter?

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* 33. Reduce heating/cooling when building is unoccupied?

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* 34. Have solar panels, wind turbines or other form of renewable-energy generation?

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* 35. Discourage use of personal refrigerators, space heaters or other appliances in classrooms?

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* 36. Purchase energy efficient appliances, computers, printers and other equipment?

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* 37. Have working thermostats in the classrooms?

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* 38. Maintain weather stripping  and caulking to control air leakage around doors and windows?

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* 39. Use locally produced foods in the cafeteria (i.e. grown and processed within 200 miles of the school,
which may include on school grounds)?

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* 40. Promote waste-free lunches?

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* 41. Compost food and/or landscaping waste?

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* 42. Use reusable, washable food ware?

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* 43. Recycle any of the following materials (check all that apply):

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* 44. Recycle any of the following non-traditional materials (check all that apply):

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* 45. Discourage use of disposable/plastic water bottles?

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* 46. Regularly print on both sides of paper?

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* 47. Use primarily electronic communication with faculty, staff, parents and community, rather than use paper handouts?

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* 48. Provide a laptop or tablet for each student to use?

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* 49. Purchase copy paper and office supplies with recycled content?

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* 50. Have a green school vision statement, school board/district policy or resolution?

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* 51. Have a green school action plan, guidelines or goals & regularly monitor progress?

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* 52. Have dedicated budget resources to support resource management efforts (besides Madison County stipend)?

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* 53. Integrate environmental education into the current curriculum?

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* 54. Take field trips to local natural areas or host environmental speakers?

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* 55. Have opportunities for students to participate in environmental or outdoor clubs or causes?

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* 56. Recognize the environmentally-related accomplishments of students & staff?

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* 57. Promote schools resource management efforts to students, parents and community through social media, newsletters, and/or press releases?

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* 58. Provide waste collection or environmentally-related community events at your school (i.e. electronics recycling, etc.)?

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* 59. Please describe any additional practices or features of your school, as they relate to resource conservation, or environmental education.

Thank you for completing the Green Schools Program Benchmarking survey!

T