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systems, agree to buy green power during the summerwhen the schools are not using it, and place price guaranteeson the electricity that a green school consumes—especially the electricity it produces. If federal incentivesor rebates were linked directly to green schools, thatwould make green school construction and renovationeven more affordable.TransportationA green school is not complete without greeningthe transportation to and from school—and thatstarts with the buses.The United States has a fleet of 60,000school buses, and for every bus on theroad, 30 cars are eliminated. While the newestschool buses can achieve 7 mpg, if we factor inthe number of passengers ferried, the fuelefficiency improves to 252 mpg. Considered inthis light, buses can be seen to be a highlyefficient and effective mode of transportation.In addition, half of the new buses have a specialidling shut-off which cuts out 50% of their fuelconsumption. In fact, new technology allows fordiesel buses to have lower emissions and to runcleaner than traditional gasoline-powered cars.Drivers and maintenance workers must betrained properly and be aware of the school’smission to have a cleaner, greener schoolbus fleet.Green schools should provide training to school busdrivers and maintenance workers to reduce bus idlingwhen possible, check tire pressure, and to start and stopbusses efficiently. The EPA runs a comprehensive GreenSchool Bus Program and all schools are encouraged to join.money. Further, renewable energy industriescreate roughly triple the number of good jobs —paying at least $16 dollars an hour —as the oilindustry could create with the same amount ofmoney.Green jobs will revitalize the American economyand substantially curb the rising unemploymentrates.Green jobs have the potential to reduce the unemploymentrate to 4.4 percent, from 5.7 percent (calculatedwithin the framework of US labor market conditions inJuly 2008). Green job training would bolster employment,especially in domestic construction and manufacturing.Specifically, the Green Recovery program can, at least,bring back 800,000 construction and skilled labor jobs.ConclusionsWith 40 percent of all energy consumed in theUnited States being consumed by buildings,there is substantial room for improvement inconservation and efficiency across the Americaninfrastructure. Building renovations andmodifications can significantly reduce totalenergy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Astandard for new construction of green buildingsand communities would ensure that futurebuildings will be more environmentally-friendlyand sustainable. These conservation andefficiency measures would breed the adoptionof environmental awareness and green lifestylechoices, and coupled with increased renewableenergy production, could easily make a bettertomorrow for the next generation.Green JobsRenewable energy industries create more jobsthan the oil industry does.Renewable energy industries can createnearly four times more total jobs than theoil industry can create with the same amount ofAmerican Council On Renewable EnergyExecutive Summary Report 30