Project Ideas
New to Sustainability? Begin with these ideas!
Community Engagement
Hang up your Sustainability Pledge Poster (provided by the Office of Energy and Sustainability)
Present your Annual Sustainability Plan to your PTA/ community and solicit their support
Energy
Encourage staff and students to turn off lights, Smartboards, laptops, etc. whenever rooms are unoccupied
Remove personal appliances (personal refrigerators, coffee makers, space heaters, etc.) from classrooms/offices
Gardening and Ecology
Organize a garden committee
Steward a street tree
Make a composting worm bin for your classroom or office.
Student Leadership
Form a green team (see PDF or webinar) that includes both staff and students
Encourage students to lead morning or lunch announcements
Waste/ Recycling
Check if every classroom and office space has waste and recycling bins
Make sure cafeteria has recycling bins
Lead student and staff workshops on how to recycle and why it’s important
Water and Green Infrastructure
Lead a lesson on NYC’s watershed and encourage students to drink tap water
Returning Sustainability Coordinator? Take it to the next level!
Community Engagement
Connect with neighboring schools and form a partner learning community in your district
Read our monthly newsletter to stay updated on grant opportunities, events, and more.
Energy
Conduct an energy audit of your classroom or floor
Ask your custodian to lead students and staff on a boiler room tour
Gardening and Ecology
Connect gardening to wellness by hosting a harvest or cooking event
Build a hydroponics/aquaponics lab
Add a compost tumbler to school yard
Maintain or expand an outdoor garden
Student Leadership
Organize students to lead an assembly on an environmental issue.
Assign classroom and/or cafeteria monitors (to check on recycling habits and energy conservation)
Waste/ Recycling
Speak with your administration about ways to reduce paper consumption
Host a school-wide swap event for gently used items or school supplies
Conduct a waste audit
Start a shared table in the cafeteria to reduce food waste
Water and Green Infrastructure
Host an awareness campaign around water conservation
Install green infrastructure in your school yard (rain barrel or rain garden)
Conduct periodic leaky faucet checks (ask custodian for support)