Green School (Bali)

Despite early intentions to live off the grid, as of 2014 the school's 70+ buildings are not off the grid,[2] but use some renewable energy sources, including micro-hydro power[4] from a "hydroelectric vortex",[5] and solar power.

The campus is designed around the principles of an organic permaculture system,[4] and the students cultivate an organic garden as part of their learning activities.[4] Buildings are constructed primarily from renewable resources including bamboo, local grass and traditional mud walls.[4] The campus has been reported as an example of the large-scale building potential of bamboo architecture,[6][7] especially "The Heart of the School" – a 60-meter long,[7] stilt-structure constructed with 2500 bamboo poles.[8] The school also utilizes renewable building materials for some of its other needs,[9] although senior students are required to use laptops.[10]

In January 2015, Green School high school students launched the Bio Bus, a student-led social enterprise to provide sustainable transport services to Green School students, teachers and community.[11] This initiative looked at solving the transportation system to the rural setting of Green School, which mainly consisted of private cars, carpooling and motorbikes. The Bio Bus now has four 18-seater buses that run purely on biodiesel (B100) made from used cooking oil.[12]

The school consists of four learning neighborhoods – Early Years, Primary School, Middle School & High School. Special programmes include Green Studies, environmental science, entrepreneurial learning, and the creative arts.[13]

Green School educates through a holistic, community-integrated, entrepreneurial learning programme. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).[14]

In 2015, Green School launched a Strategic Review process to include members of the faculty, parents, local community and board of directors in the spirit of the progressiveness of the school. To meet this evolution, the governance structure of Green School was updated and made public.[3] Its three-level governance structure is based on the Indonesian legal requirements. There are currently Trustees, a Board of Management – a cross-stakeholder body that governs the School operationally to provide the school's holistic education experience, and implement its strategic plan. [16] School Board Members have included Roger J. Hamilton David Heffernan. Ronald Stones, Nadya Hutagalung, Mickey Ackerman, Chris Saye, Derek Montgomery and Theo Bakker.[17]

Green School was awarded the 2012 "Greenest School on Earth" award by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.[18][19] The school was a finalist for the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.[1][20]