CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Students, faculty and volunteers participated in a "green makeover" Friday at Bloom High School, creating a more energy-efficient and healthier learning environment.

Thanks to a $175,000 grant from Wal-Mart, the Earth Day Network has been working with Bloom on a number of retrofits and installations, culminating in Friday's event.

That work included installing a greenhouse that will be used year-round, planting native shrubs in the school's courtyard, replacing power strips with energy-efficient models and painting an "eco-mural" with nontoxic paints.

"It was a fantastic event. We're extremely happy with the outcome," said Raquel Garcia, communications manager for the Earth Day Network.

A couple of weeks ago, the school began installing solar panels that will eventually provide electricity for about 20 classrooms, eliminating about 38,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year, Garcia said.

Another project done Friday morning was the installation of a "living wall" in one of the classrooms. The wall of plants serves to filter and purify the air, creating a healthier learning environment, Garcia said.

An Earth Fair in the afternoon introduced companies and organizations to students, who learned about different aspects of sustainability, including topics such as organic food and wildlife preservation.

"It seemed to be a very good experience for the kids," Garcia said.

The project is part of the Earth Day Network's Green Schools Campaign, which identifies schools in urban communities that would benefit from environmental makeovers.

"Our students learned firsthand how these products will help not only our school but our environment," Bloom physics and chemistry teacher Barry Latham said. "This donation allowed them to participate in our sustainable efforts and engage with the professionals who are leaders in the field."