Earth Day Network partners with University of Phoenix Foundation

Greening will include solar panels, energy-efficient products, native plantings, and other sustainable initiatives

Earth Day Network and The University of Phoenix Foundation today announced the greening of William R. Sullivan Elementary School in Phoenix. The "green makeover" is part of Earth Day Network's "Green Schools Campaign," which aims to create healthy, energy-efficient and sustainable learning environments - both indoors and outdoors - at schools across the nation.

The centerpiece of the greening project is the installation of a 2.1k/W solar panel system that will save the school $120,000 over thirty years and 166,800 lbs of carbon emissions. Earth Day Network is also providing the school with an educational energy monitoring system so teachers and students can keep track of energy generation and savings.

The Foundation and Earth Day Network worked together to identify an urban school in Phoenix that would benefit greatly from the donations, and has already taken steps to become more sustainable. The Murphy School District, to which Sullivan belongs, just completed an Education and Health Center where environmental preservation is valued and exemplified.

"Green schools reduce toxins while increasing attendance, lowering illness rates and raising test scores. Students fare much better with green schools and so does the planet," said Sean Miller, Director of Education at Earth Day Network. "Reducing energy consumption is often a challenge for schools across the nation. With a solar panel installation, not only are we helping the district save money and carbon emissions, we are also providing the students with a learning experience that will prove useful for future careers in the green jobs sector."

Around the campus, volunteers from the Foundation and Earth Day Network staff will carry out other projects, such as painting an eco-mural with non-toxic paint, installing efficient lighting and power strips, and distributing planters with native seeds to the classrooms.

"This school greening has opened a new world of possibilities to our students and the community at large," said Nicole Navratil, music teacher at Sullivan. "Now we will be able to teach sustainability with a hands-on approach. We are very proud and honored that Sullivan has been chosen for this project."

"University of Phoenix is committed to making our operations more sustainable. Our Foundation supports environmental education programs and our grant to support the greening of Sullivan Elementary is a perfect way to further branch out these efforts into the community," said Ayla Dickey, President of the University of Phoenix Foundation. "We are thrilled to team up with Earth Day Network to bring this exciting project to our hometown and help educate the environmental stewards of tomorrow."

About Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, politics, and consumer activism. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 15,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

The 40th Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2009.

About The University of Phoenix Foundation
Founded in 2006, the Foundation's mission is to increase access to education in critical areas, especially for underrepresented and low-income students traditionally under-served by the education continuum, in an effort to provide a pathway for economic advancement. The University of Phoenix Foundation works to fulfill its mission by providing grants to 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, public charities to support the following: programs that promote school readiness, particularly among at-risk students; programs that improve educational opportunities for underrepresented students; programs that increase the rate of underrepresented students earning college and advanced degrees; and programs that contribute to the educational dialogue and research regarding the environment2009.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As of November 30, 2008, 384, 900 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.