The House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that will provide nearly $7 billion in grants to help America's K-12 schools go green. Called the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 3021), the bill, sponsored by Ben Chandler, D-Ky., aims to help schools to become more energy efficient and healthier.

There is a special emphasis on low-income schools where children are most at risk from unhealthy facilities and on schools that still suffer from the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

The legislation passed by the House will allow the Secretary of Education to distribute funds to K-12 school districts according to a need-based formula, to make them more energy efficient, healthy and high-performing. Funding can be used for asbestos removal services, energy efficiency improvements, lead abatements and technology upgrades.