Green Building: Green Schools & Colleges
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Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent building new schools in Connecticut. They are the most important buildings we construct as nearly one out of five people in Connecticut spend part of there day in a school building. Insuring that our school projects are high performance, energy efficient, health places to learn needs to be a top priority as these buildings profoundly influence our next generation. Like all green buildings, Green schools offer significant benefits to the occupants and to the owners, local taxpayers. These benefits however, are amplified as the occupants in our schools, our children, are being shaped for the rest of their lives. Since children are not as tolerant as healthy adults to a variety of indoor pollutants, it is imperative that we provide high quality indoor environmental quality. This presents a real challenge as schools high occupancy densities compound indoor environmental concerns. Every wonder why when one kid gets a sick, the entire class gets the sick? Improper air circulation that helps spread germs, as does poor design and improper maintenance. Overview of some benefits of a green school: ● Improved Student performance ● Healthier and more comfortable indoor environmental quality ● Lower operating costs ● Reduced liability exposure ● Enhanced staff satisfaction ● Lower water use and sewage disposal ● Safer more secure buildings ● A building that teaches ● Lower environmental impacts The benefits of green schools are compelling for both students and taxpayers. Several studies have shown that properly designed green schools, especially ones that aggressively use natural day light, improve learning and test scores. The Heschong Mahone Group has done a series of studies on this subject and these reports are available for down load at www.h-m-g.com/Daylighting/main.htm. Other demonstrated benefits include increased average attendance rates, increased staff satisfaction. Green schools can be hands-on laboratory for ecological design and operation. Green schools also save taxpayers money. On average, operating costs are 30% lower while the school’s increased durability lowers maintenance expense and future renovation costs. Decreased water use and lower sewage disposable needs not only save money, but also may prolong the life of the municipal water and sewage systems. Green schools also help avoid potential future liability from sick building syndrome as the schools have superior indoor air quality and decreased toxins. Dormitories at the Eastern and Southern CT State Universities opened in the Fall of 2004 that are expected to receive LEED certification. Additional green schools in Connecticut will be the Hotchkiss School Music & Arts Center addition and the new Science Building at WCSU. Both are expected to open in early 2005. In addition, many communities around the state are considering green schools. They include Hamden's new middle school, all new schools in New Haven, and the Middletown High School & Vo-Ag Center. Yale University is also considering green principals in the design and construction of some of their new buildings. While green schools lower the school’s environmental impact through thoughtful design and smart building practices, the benefits to the students and the significant payback to the taxpayers are the compelling reasons all schools in Connecticut should be built green. More web based information on green homes is available in our Green Building Links section. ^top |
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