These “student ambassadors” at College Park Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Va., explained to AFT members and others attending the Green Schools National Conference how their LEED-rated school works, from the garden beds they plant to the vortex filter that cleans rainwater runoff from the roof. Their school also uses the sun to warm up water for radiant heat floors and to supply hot water in the kitchen, which usually gobbles up the most energy in schools after heating, air conditioning and lighting.

Those on the tour came away with leads for funding, too. Look into school garden grants at www.wholekidsfoundation.org, and farm-to-school grants at www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool.