Protection of the Environment

Today’s educators stress the importance of environmentalism and recycling. What better way to teach children firsthand than by building Green Schools? These buildings employ a variety of techniques to reduce harmful effects on the environment, such as:

•  Using Recycled Building Materials – Green schools use everything from recycled soda bottles to wheat crops for flooring, wall materials and even fabrics.
•  Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions – By using renewable energy in schools and reducing energy consumption through efficient design, school districts can reduce the use of fossil fuel sources to heat, cool and light school buildings.
•  Re-Using Existing School Buildings – Not only is it more environmentally-friendly to “recycle” buildings that already exist, but renovation is often less expensive than new construction and can result in more aesthetically-pleasing buildings that are already integrated into the community.
•  Choosing Carefully Sited Projects – High performance schools preserve pristine natural areas on their sites and restore damaged ones, allowing them to be good environmental citizens.

Improved Health and Learning

Factors such as acoustics, air quality and lighting can all affect the alertness and health of teachers and students. Green schools foster a more comfortable working environment than traditional schools by providing:

•  Daylighting – A green school with a lot of windows allows a brighter, more visually rich environment, impacting both student mood, health and performance.
•  Better Air Quality – Of any age group, children are most susceptible to “Sick Building Syndrome.” By using recycled, environmentally-friendly products, green schools virtually eliminate off-gasing and mold caused by building materials.
•  Superior Acoustics and Thermal Comfort – Specially designed ventilation and cooling systems create environments that are not too hot, cold or humid. As a result, noisy air conditioners are eliminated, thus reducing background noise and reverberation.

Money Savings Through Reduced Energy Usage

High performance schools have the ability to significantly improve operating costs, both in the short and long-term. Because energy is the largest cost in school facility operation, green buildings employ a variety of strategies that can save money and resources, including:

•  Minimizing Energy Demand – Insulation, environmentally-aware siting and roofing all enable green schools to operate with less energy load.
•  Using Energy-Efficient Lighting, Mechanical Systems and Renewable Energy Sources – Reducing the need for artificial lighting, using task-specific lighting and employing motion sensors tied to dimmable lighting controls enable electricity costs to be cut. Double-effect absorption cooling or geothermal heat pumps and solar hot water systems can further minimize energy costs.
•  Minimizing Water Usage – Exploring rain water collection and re-use, capturing grey water for grounds maintenance, using waterless urinals and automatic faucets are all ways green schools can reduce the amount of water they consume.