Wasteful Schools12 Ways Schools Can Earn Money Without Fundraising...

I don’t believe schools are wasteful, but I do think every school has room for improvement when it comes to lowering expenses, gainingefficiencies via technology and getting greener. Here are a few ideas that schools can use to earn cash back over time.

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1) Electric Hand Dryers

Get some that won’t burn kids andyou will reduce your paper cost bya ton.

2) Automatic Sinks & Soap DispensersIf you’ve not got them yet, you are surely wasting money.

3) A Heating & Cooling TimerPutting an intelligent thermostatin will allow temperatures to creep up after school and overnight, butreturn to perfect the next morning.

4) Go Paperless

Based on what I’ve seen, this is abiggie! Every school can reduce the paper they use and rely more on computers. Keep records from adistrict level down digital! Many businesses today have made the switch to paperless quite successfully and you can too!

5) Lighting

Improving lighting is a big deal in schools! Schools can put intelligent switches on lights that turn on when someone enters a room and off when everyone’s gone.

Helpful HintPaying attention to lighting design and using new energy-efficient lighting can savemoney as well!

6) Recycle

While not a money saver in a conventional sense, recycling does encourage schools to use what they need. It’s a reminder not to be wasteful and that creates savings.

Helpful HintRe-using everyday products such as cardboard boxes, glass jars and other materials canreduce art supply cost.

7) Unplug

Remind faculty to unplug things that are not used regularly.If there are printers, calculators, etc. on all the time that are rarely used, they are storing and usingenergy. Although not a major consideration perhaps, it’s still money in the bank.

8) Solar

Solar power is a bit expensive in the short-term, but long-term gains are outstanding. Outdoor lighting and signage can be solar powered and school roofs allow ample direct sunlight for even bigger efforts.

9) Invest in Technology

Smart Boards, iPads andcomputers limit the need for paper and conventional printing. Use an email broadcast instead of a printed newsletter and you save thousands of sheets of paper a year!When schools embrace technology, the business world takes notice producing even better, more applicable technology. You have to support technology in schools if you want technology tosupport you!

10) Ebooks instead of TextbooksThere is a change coming. A transition from paper textbooks to electronic versions. There’s no need to have a printed book except perhaps in cases of early childhood education and even that is going digital!

11) Be a Community Hub

Consider offering areas of the school to the business and public sector for the sake of the community.

Rent out your baseball fields, host seminars and other events, provide your parking lot to theannual clothing sale for a donation. As long as it passes the legal test and is a benefit to the school and the community, you should consider it.

12) Offer Summer School, Study and Play GroupsScience camps, band camps, art camps, educational and fun groups can be a boom to the finances of a school while offering a community benefit. If these are third-party providers, they will rent the location. If they are your own program, the school benefits from all the income. Hosting events when the school is not in session may just be a way to earn more while providing a service. As your school gets more embedded into the community, it holds more power and prestige. This adds credibility, comfort and people become used to going there for various events and activities. As people think of your school as a benefit to the community, it becomes more important in the eyes of the community.

Wasteful SchoolsSo, with that you have a community hub that saves money by being green, investing in technology and reusable energy. In setting up your own plan, look to building efficiencies first, then look inside the classroom and finally look to the community. There’s certainly a lot of ways to make an impact.

Now, go do something good!

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