Nearly 300 schools are on a waiting list for certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's school certification program, Associated Press reports.
So many schools are going green that the council, which previously certified schools based on commercial-building guidelines, just came out with benchmarks specifically for schools.
So far, 27 schools have received the certification.
The Council of Educational Facility Planners International estimates that green building will comprise as much as 10 percent of the school construction market by 2010.
Most school districts building green schools are willing to spend the two percent more in construction costs in order to ensure lower utility bills over the long run.
A recent report found that building green would save an average school $100,000 each year - enough to hire two new additional full-time teachers.
