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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a multiyear construction bill to devote $6.4 billion toward green school initiatives across the country.

Not yet passed by the Senate, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act would support thousands of new jobs, reduce energy consumption and create healthier, cleaner environments for schoolchildren.

With similar bills threatened by veto during the Bush administration, this has a much better chance of this coming to fruition with President Obama' s school improvement projects as an element of his economic stimulus initiative.

"The bill would provide states with money to make grants and low interest loans so school districts could build, modernize and repair facilities to make them healthier, safer and more energy-efficient. The funds would be allotted under a formula based on a district's share of students from low-income families, but the bill guarantees that every district that receives federal money for low-income students will get at least $5,000."

For schools to meet "Green" standards these projects will follow structural and energy regulations and standards set by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system and Energy Star.

Photo by smatheson via Creative Commons License.