> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://usgbc.gitbook.io/green-classroom-professional-program-handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://usgbc.gitbook.io/green-classroom-professional-program-handbook/green-classroom-professional-certificate-program-handbook.md). # Green Classroom Professional Certificate Program Handbook Updated August 2018 ## The basics ### About the Green Classroom Professional Certificate Program The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is offering the Green Classroom Professional (GCP) certificate program that will equip educators and other school stakeholders with the knowledge needed to make their classrooms and schools healthier, greener places to teach and learn. Classrooms serve as hands-on learning environments and create foundational awareness of lifestyle choices and health. Upon earning the certificate, educators and other professionals will be able to identify features that support or impede environmentally healthy classrooms and foster an attitude among future generations to appreciate and model green practices. Green classroom professionals advocate for healthier environments in which to work and teach. With the Green Classroom Professional Certificate, the classroom will turn into a living laboratory, creating foundational awareness of greener lifestyles, energy savings and environmental health in students. The program will help pre-K-12 teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators: * Decrease absenteeism due to environmental factors * Support green building and sustainability through energy and water savings for schools and also create a healthier indoor environment for teachers and students * Support the health of school occupants, including teachers, students and staff * Provide the best environment for student success * Understand opportunities to connect green practices with classroom curriculum and activities * Foster an attitude among students to appreciate and model sustainable practices * Become part of the green schools and green building communities * Apply for elective continuing education credits to maintain a teaching credential * Identify future professional development opportunities or credentials to pursue, such as the LEED Green Associate Many teachers and green building professionals volunteered their time and worked together with the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Alliance to Save Energy to develop the Green Classroom Professional Certificate Program. Participation often qualifies for elective continuing education. All Green Classroom Professionals will receive a digital certificate that can be printed out and displayed in their school or classroom. ### Process overview This Green Classroom Professional Certificate Program includes a two-hour online course and a one-hour quiz with multiple choice questions. The program allows 365 days for each candidate to complete the course and quiz. The course is the only preparation required for the quiz. To sign up, visit: [usgbc.org/classroom/gcp](https://www.usgbc.org/classroom/gcp). ### Cost The course and quiz are available for individual purchase for $45. You can also access the course through the [USGBC course catalog subscription](https://www.usgbc.org/resources/education-usgbc-subscription). A discounted bulk price of $25 per person applies for purchases of five or more access points at one time. To request group pricing, complete this form: . ### Taking the course and quiz 1. Visit [usgbc.org/classroom/gcp](https://www.usgbc.org/classroom/gcp) to sign up for the Green Classroom Professional Certificate Program. 2. Create or login to your USGBC profile by clicking "Account" in the upper right toolbar. 3. Submit payment. 4. Once you complete the payment, you will receive access to the course. 5. Complete all 12 modules. The course automatically tracks your completion. After completing the modules, take the quiz. You will have unlimited attempts within 365 days of your purchase date. 6. Upon successful completion of the quiz, a course completion certificate will be available for download on the course page while logged into your USGBC account. ### System requirements The course requires internet access and Adobe Acrobat Reader for downloadable documents. * HTML 5 * *Windows*: Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version), Firefox (latest version) * *Mac:* latest version each of Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox * *Mobile:* Safari in Apple iOS 10 or later, Google Chrome in Apple iOS 10 or later, Google Chrome in Android OS 4.4 or later * Flash * Adobe Flash Player 10.3 The course is online and self-paced. It includes 12 modules covering key topics. *** ## The course #### **Module 1: Introduction** 1. Introduce participants to the challenges of creating and maintaining environmentally healthy and sustainable learning spaces. 2. Introduce participants to the core green building concepts and the LEED framework. 3. Prepare participants to adopt, advocate or implement green practices that improve sustainability, optimize the classroom and school as learning environments and promote health among students and school occupants. 4. Prepare participants to communicate effectively with other members of the school community about environmental challenges and green practices by providing them with appropriate terminology, facts and information. 5. Prepare participants for the Green Classroom Professional Certificate quiz. #### **Module 2: Green Schools and Classrooms** 1. Describe characteristics of a green school. 2. Describe the role of a Green Classroom Professional. 3. Identify key information that Green Classroom Professionals should learn about their classrooms. #### **Module 3: Green Building Basics and LEED** 1. Explain key sustainability terms and concepts. 2. Identify green building best practices. 3. Explain costs and benefits of green building. 4. Describe green building and the role of USGBC, LEED and the Arc platform. 5. Recognize core concepts of green building through the LEED Credit Categories. 6. Examine examples of green schools. #### **Module 4: Sustainable Grounds and Transportation** 1. Identify unsafe, unsustainable and unhealthy issues related to the school grounds and factors outside the school building. 2. Identify ways a GCP can influence or advocate to reduce negative impacts. #### **Module 5: Indoor Environmental Quality — Air Quality** 1. Describe why air quality is important in the classroom. 2. Identify sources that affect indoor air quality. 3. Identify classroom practices that may have a negative impact on indoor air quality. 4. Promote air flow in the classroom. 5. Identify supply air and return air vents. 6. Report sources of moisture, including leaks. #### **Module 6: Indoor Environmental Quality – Green Cleaning & Integrated Pest Management** 1. Use strategies to reduce particulates and dirt in the classroom. 2. Identify potential hazards of cleaning products. 3. Use environmentally friendly and healthy cleaning products, equipment and practices. 4. Describe importance of integrated pest management to a green classroom or school. 5. Identify typical classroom pests, analyze sources of infestation and apply preventative measures. 6. Identify non-toxic basic pest management methods. #### **Module 7: Indoor Environmental Quality – Acoustics** 1. Describe why noise is a consideration in a green classroom. 2. Recognize the impact of noise in the learning environment. 3. Consider ways to limit noise in a classroom. #### **Module 8: Water Efficiency & Quality** 1. Describe why water quality and reduction are important in a green school. 2. Recognize problematic water indicators (e.g., solids, odor, discoloration). 3. Describe why reporting water leaks is important (e.g., water leaks can lead to much bigger problems: mold, structural deterioration, pests). 4. Report wasteful water situations. 5. Promote water efficient strategies and fixtures. #### **Module 9: Energy & Atmosphere – Lighting** 1. Describe the reasons lighting is important in a classroom. 2. Describe why energy use reduction is a significant consideration for a school. 3. Identify opportunities to increase daylighting in the classroom while managing quality of lighting. 4. Define opportunities to balance daylighting and thermal comfort. 5. Use energy reducing lighting and follow efficient lighting practices. #### **Module 10: Energy and Atmosphere – Plug Loads and HVAC** 1. Employ practices to decrease the amount of energy used in the school through plug loads. 2. Use best practices to control energy use by HVAC systems. #### **Module 11: Materials & Resources** 1. Describe why material selection, usage and waste management are important in a green classroom. 2. Request and advocate for sustainable, healthy and environmentally friendly learning and teaching materials. 3. Reduce the consumption of common classroom products. 4. Repurpose items for use in the classroom. 5. Recycle products and use sustainable, safe and healthy practices to dispose of materials that cannot be recycled. #### **Module 12: Innovation & Conclusion** 1. Recognize opportunities for innovative actions as a Green Classroom Professional. *** ## The quiz ### Quiz format and scoring The assessment consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer earns a point. The passing score is set at 80%, or at least 24 of 30 questions answered correctly. The results of the assessment are available immediately after completing the assessment. ### Quiz content The course is the only preparation required for the quiz. **Sample Question 1** In Mrs. Allava’s class, students return from lunch with trash. There is a combination of used notebook paper and plastic bottles, dirty napkins and food-soaked paper plates, and bananas and apples. Which of these items should be placed in the recycling bin instead? 1. Used notebook paper and plastic bottles (\*Answer) 2. Dirty napkins and food-soaked paper plates 3. Bananas and apples **Sample Question 2** Mrs. Allava wants to bring more lighting into the classroom. Generally she posts students’ drawings on the classroom door. Student desks are generally facing forward and perpendicular to the windows in the classroom. The classroom blinds are also closed. How can Mrs. Allava increase visual comfort of the students while reducing energy use? 1. Open the blinds, move drawings from the door to the wall, and turn desks 90 degrees 2. Open the blinds, leave drawings in place on the door and turn desks towards windows 3. Open the blinds, hang drawings from the ceiling near the windows, and leave desks in place (\*Answer) **Sample Question 3** The facilities staff generally picks up trash from Mrs. Allava’s room just after lunchtime each day. Mrs. Allava forgot to schedule an additional pick for her classroom after an afternoon celebration for her class’ reading scores. One hour after the party, Mrs. Allava hears and then sees rodents. After notifying facilities staff, how can Mrs. Allava prevent this situation from occurring again in the future? 1. Collect food trash separately in a sealable plastic trash container (\*Answer) 2. Tie up plastic bags before leaving the room for the night 3. Place single feed bait rodenticide pellets around trash can area *** ## More information ### Continuing education The certificate of completion attests to taking the course and passing the quiz and can be used to submit for continuing education credit for educators. [Find information and](http://www.virtualeduc.com/US-state-teacher-certification-requirements.php) [documents to complete your CE hours.](http://www.virtualeduc.com/US-state-teacher-certification-requirements.php) Continuing education hours are automatically reported to GBCI on behalf of LEED professionals, immediately upon passing the exam. Continuing education hours are reported on a weekly basis on behalf of AIA credential holders who have [added their AIA](https://www.usgbc.org/account/settings) [number to their usgbc.org account](https://www.usgbc.org/account/settings). *** ## Contact Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20037 Website: Phone: 1-800-795-1746 (within the US) or +1-202-828-1145 (outside the US) ### Center for Green Schools The [Center for Green Schools](http://centerforgreenschools.org/) at the U.S. Green Building Council is a global leader in advancing green schools and providing the resources needed to create sustainable, healthy, resilient, and equitable learning environments. We are driving the green school movement by working directly with those implementing sustainability within school systems and offering a wide array of initiatives that accelerate action.