Overview
Nestled in the lush jungles of Bali along the Ayung River, Green School Bali is an award-winning private, international pre‑K through high school founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy It has grown into a vibrant cominity community of 35+ nationalities and over 800 full‑ and part‑time learners
Bamboo Architecture
- The entire campus is crafted primarily from locally sourced, renewable bamboo, including not just the structures, but even blackboards and chairs
- Among its most striking features is The Heart of School—a soaring, 60-meter-long bamboo structure created using 2,500 bamboo poles, showcasing the engineering potential of this sustainable material
Renewable Energy in Action
- Green School aims to source 100% renewable energy, leveraging solar PV arrays, a micro‑hydro vortex generator, and bio‑gas generated from agricultural waste
- Bamboo sawdust powers water heating and cooking systems, while the school’s paths are made from volcanic rock and gravel instead of materials like cement to lower environmental impact
The Student-Led Bio Bus Initiative
- In 2015, high school students launched the Bio Bus—a student‑led social enterprise providing sustainable school transport by converting used cooking oil into biodiesel (B100)
- Now operating multiple buses, this initiative saves significant CO₂ emissions annually, with students (dubbed the “Grease Police”) collecting thousands of liters of used oil each month from restaurants, hotels, and households
- Beyond transportation, Bio Bus serves as an immersive learning platform, offering project‑based education in chemistry, engineering, business, media, data analysis, web design, and social entrepreneurship
Sustainable Governance & Community Integration
- The school is operated under Yayasan Kul‑Kul, a nonprofit foundation whose governance model—comprising Trustees, Supervisors, a Board of Management, and an Executive Committee—reflects inclusive, community‑driven leadership
- Green School’s curriculum emphasizes holistic, entrepreneurial, and community‑integrated learning, with hands-on sustainability projects embedded across all levels—making “Impact” a key learning outcome rather than an afterthought
Why It Matters for Policy & Leadership
Green School Bali exemplifies how sustainable governance and environmental design can be meaningfully merged within education. Through innovative use of materials, clean energy systems, and deep community engagement, the school sets a real-world benchmark—showing that educational leadership today can—and should—model the sustainable futures we aspire to.
Last modified: August 15, 2025
