The 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Twenhofel Middle School in Independence, Kentucky, are standing in the lobby watching TV—a 42-inch Plasma screen, to be exact. But they aren’t watching “American Idol.” In the morning—and throughout the day—these students use the TV monitor to check out the school’s “Vital Signs”: measurements of energy savings, pounds of carbon dioxide emissions saved and rainfall collected by the school’s rainwater collection system. They’re also checking out which grade is winning the monthly energy conservation contest.
Why? Twenhofel is one of a growing number of schools across the country that are going green—using sustainable design principles to create energy efficient buildings, improve student performance and save money in operating costs. These “high performance” green schools also serve as dynamic teaching tools, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities about energy and the environment.
In fact, while lightening their environmental footprint, these schools are discovering some surprising and welcome benefits for students, teachers and the bottom line.
“The energy and water savings, the increased attendance—we’ve had such positive experiences at Twenhofel and Caywood Elementary (another green school in the district) that we are committed to high performance design throughout the district,” says Christine Baker, Energy Systems Coordinator for the Kenton County School District.
Defining Green
High performance schools use a “whole building” approach. That means they integrate efficient lighting and daylighting systems, advanced windows, roofing, insulation, and mechanical and ventilation systems, as well as renewable energy systems, water conservation features, recycling and waste management systems, and use environmentally-sensitive building products and systems. New high-performance schools can cost 50% less to operate than traditionally designed schools.1
What does a high performance green school look like? Think of classrooms and hallways lighted almost entirely by natural daylight. Think of toilets that flush using rainwater. Think of geothermal heating and cooling systems that use the constant temperature of the Earth to cool and heat the building. Think of recycled rubber flooring.
These days building green is much more than installing solar panels on the roof. At Twenhofel, for example, three-fourths of the school is lighted by natural daylight, and when that is not enough, the lighting system uses photocells to measure available light and then activate artificial lighting only when necessary. To reduce fuel consumption, 24% of the construction materials were manufactured and harvested from within a 500-mile radius. And all the paint, wood and flooring have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which means they are less toxic and contribute to better indoor air quality.
The extra steps Twenhofel took in sustainable design are part of its effort to become the first LEED® Silver Certified School in Kentucky. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council , LEED® for Schools (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the recognized benchmark for green schools. The rating system addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, daylight and views, mold prevention, and environmental site assessment. LEED® provides four award levels (LEED® certified, silver, gold or platinum) based on the number of environmentally related points each project achieves.2
Healthy Schools, Smart Kids
But schools are seriously considering sustainable green design not only for the environmental benefits, but for the excellent educational environment that comes with it. A growing body of research is pointing to the many benefits of LEED® certified schools, which typically have excellent daylighting and ventilation, high indoor air quality and reduced levels of environmental toxins. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, these conditions result in reduced incidence of asthma, decreased absenteeism, improved academic performance and increased teacher satisfaction. ....read more
