GEF

Unit 5  |  Toward Sustainable Water Systems 140 data, the students then proceeded to convince the city of Scottsdale to install the new faucet aerators. Similar to this case, there are countless other examples in which sustainability is being used as an integrating framework for education across all disciplines. Schools have also been leaders in the green building move- ment. In the U.S., the Green Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that instigate practices such as water audits, rainwater harvesting, repairs of leaks, and calculating school water footprints. Some schools have been especially innovative. Green Valley School in Pennsylvania collects rain- water and stores it in a 60,000 gallon tank located below the school’s playground, meeting a substantial percentage of the school’s water needs. Green schools are not limited to the U.S. In Singapore, the art school at Nanyang Technological University is covered by extensive green roofs that absorb rainwater and add important wildlife habitat. The combination of green building practices and forward-thinking curriculum are making schools around the world vital centers for sustainability and water conservation. Nanyang Technological University was built with award winning green architecture.