Building Green Schools

By Lori Blake

Here’s a new trend in “Green”: Green School Buildings. So what exactly makes a school “green”? Generally speaking, it’s a school building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money according to www.buildgreenschools.org. Building a K-12 School involves a unique design and construction plan that will help students achieve the highest level of performance possible. Classroom acoustics, daylight and views, mold prevention and environmental site assessment are all part of the process in building a green school.

Numerous studies have shown that by “going green”, schools can benefit student performance and improve the health of the student. How? Daylight improves performance. Good indoor air quality improves health. Acoustics increase learning potential. Mold prevention decreases asthma incidence and other illnesses.

Des Moines Public Schools and MidAmerican Energy are working together to save some green in our school buildings. “Energy costs are typically the second largest part of most budgets,” says Bill Good, chief operating officer for Des Moines Public Schools. “Over time, something as simple as turning off the lights can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in a district as large as Des Moines.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 25 to 30% of a building’s energy use goes toward interior and exterior lighting. There is a myth that says you should not turn off fluorescent lights because it uses more energy to turn them back on again. The energy usage during start up is comparable to 5 seconds or less at normal operation, so it always pays to turn off the lights when leaving a room.

Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) is taking steps, both large and small, to be more environmentally and fiscally responsible when it comes to energy. DMPS has received $1.5 million in energy rebates over the past 8 years due to school renovations. Geothermal energy installation means energy savings of up to 40%; restroom hand dryers reduce paper waste; and controlled lighting cuts down on electricity usage.

Merrill Middle School will be the first school in Des Moines to use solar energy, thanks to the support of Wells Fargo and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. A grant from the Siemens Corporation is helping Central Campus study the feasibility of including energy sustainability as part of the curriculum in its technical and advanced math and science courses. The Hoover Environmental Club is working on ways to enhance energy conservation at their high school.

Winter Break provides an opportunity for the school district to save energy by turning down the temperature, turning off all the lights in the building except security lights, and making sure all computers and other office equipment are turned off. Turning off a computer monitor at night and on weekends can save more than $50.00 per year, per monitor. It is also helpful to pull down and close blinds in offices and classrooms.

The U.S. School system serves some 55 million students and 5 million faculty and staff. More than 300 schools have received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council according to interiordesign.net. Learning about energy can begin at any age and the school is a great place to begin teaching young people about the importance of being an environmentally conscious citizen.