The U.S. House recently passed the School Modernization Bill designed, among other things, to provide $6.4 billion to go toward more energy efficient schools.  If the bill also passes in the Senate, it will provide a small portion of the estimated $255 billion needed to renovate and repair all the schools across the country according to the American Federation of Teachers.  Rachel Gutter of the U.S. Green Building Council, says, in an article on CNN.com, that there is a large pay off to building green.  She disputes the idea that green construction is costlier and notes that the savings, typically $100,000 per school, per year, can go to other school operating expenses - year after year after year.  In addition, the money spent on renovation now will improve air and water quality, improve employee and student productivity and performance and provide 136,000 jobs.