Austin, TX (March 2012) – The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin, TX, won the grand prize for the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition presented by Pureology Serious Colour Care. Selected from more than 220 public, private and charter K – 12 school entries across the country, TSD’s Green School Makeover includes energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades, valued at $130,000; $65,000 for school renovations and an additional $65,0000 worth of technical assistance, including a film documentary of the entire makeover project. Visit Pureology’s Facebook page or www.globalgreen.org beginning on March 15th to view the first segment of the renovation process.
Situated just south of downtown in Austin Texas since established in 1856 by the Texas legislature, the Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating, publicly funded school in the state. Today, TSD’s 67-acre campus provides an exceptional education to deaf and hard of hearing students, ages 0-22. Though TSD’s state-of-the-art educational and residential facilities are fully equipped to meet the diverse needs of its student body, often repair and renovation funds are the first to go when budgets are tightened.
“We are so excited that Pureology and Global Green USA have given us this opportunity,” said TSD Superintendent Claire Bugen. “Unlike other public schools, we live on this campus 24 hours a day and we generate a lot of waste. This prize will help us take our fledgling recycling efforts to the next level and install some important tools, like automatic faucets, to help us become more sustainable.”
To kick-off its Green School Makeover, TSD held an All-Campus Assembly & Going Green Launch Pep Rally for students. Matt Petersen (Global Green President & CEO) and Jenni Bingham (Pureology Director of Integrated Communications) toured the TSD campus, visited with students and presented the first installment of the grant prize to the school, kicking off the first phase of the upgrades. With the funds received through the Green School Makeover Competition, the school plans to:
- Update facilities to allow for energy efficient upgrades: Retrofitting light fixtures to allow for energy efficient bulbs and motion-activated lights. Costsavings from the energy efficient upgrades will be reinvested back into the education programs.
- Initiate water conservation tactics: Reduce water usage and consumption by placing rain barrels to collect for watering the school grounds and installing hands-free faucets in lavatories.
- Initiate waste reduction tactics: Install hands-free hand dryers in restrooms which use less paper and save materialsfrom going to the landfills. It will also reduce supply costs for the school, cut down on waste and reduce stafftime replenishing paper towels and emptying trash.
- Educate student body on recycling: Install recycling bins across campus, making them readily available next to every trashcan, would make recycling easier and encourage recycling campus-wide.
"Global Green USA has been hard at work to improve our nation's schools and the lives of those in need in cities across the country for over 15 years," said Matt Petersen, President and CEO of Global Green. "Every child deserves a healthy classroom that also helps improves test scores, while helping cash strapped schools that save money on energy bills."
"We are deeply excited to bring green school benefits to the students and teachers at the extraordinary Texas School for the Deaf — we look forward to helping make their school a better place, and documenting the process so other schools can follow their lead," continued Petersen
“Pureology is proud to support Global Green USA and help improve the lives of students and teachers at TSD,” states Shae Kalyani, Vice President of Marketing for Pureology. “We are thrilled The Texas School for the Deaf won and are looking forward to sharing the renovation process with our community on Pureology’s Facebook page!”
To view the winning entries, and to learn how you can implement green improvements in your school, home and community, please visit please visit www.globalgreen.org/greenschools
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About the Texas School for the Deaf
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educatingdeaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individualstrengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, visit http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/.
About Global Green USA
Global Green USA is the American affiliate of Green Cross International, founded by President Gorbachev, to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. For nearly 20 years, Global Green USA has been a national leader in advocating for smart solutions to global warming including green building for affordable housing, schools andcommunities that save money, improve health and create green jobs. Global Green USA has influenced more than $20 billion dollars for green building projects and educates millions of people about climate friendly solutions through its annual Red Carpet/Green Cars Oscars campaign. Global Green is also leading efforts to help rebuild a green New Orleans through its sustainable green village and green schools initiatives.
About Pureology Serious Colour Care®
Pureology Serious Colour Care is a professional haircare line committed to the well-being of the environment, and since its inception in 2001, Pureology took measures to decrease its impact on the environment by using natural, organic botanicals and 100% Vegan ingredients. All Pureology formulas offer an industry first: Longer Lasting Hair Colour – Guaranteed!® For more information visit Pureology.com or like Pureology on Facebook. Please note, Pureology products can only be guaranteed authentic when purchased from a salon. We request that you do not credit drugstores, “beauty websites” or other unauthorized retailers.