According to a recent American Federation of Teachers report, many schools are overcrowded and in a state of disrepair, often with inadequate HVAC systems, poor acoustics, even substandard plumbing. Add to that, ever-diminishing budgets and increasing student populations.

The problem begins to look dismal. In a 1999 Federal study by the U.S. General Accounting office, 75 percent of schools responded that they needed funds for repairs, renovation and modernization just to bring their schools up to a level they would consider “good.”

In fact, the U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that it will cost $112 billion to bring existing K-12 public schools to proper standards. Another $73 billion is needed to add new facilities when the student population increases from 53 million to 54.4 million as expected by next year.

An increasing number of schools are looking to green construction to address these issues. Green building strategies were employed in buildings as far back as the 19th century. Recent research has begun to shed light on green building’s potential as a pragmatic solution to the problems faced by many buildings, including America’s schools.

Green building may help schools face their most important challenge: improving student achievement. A 2005 Turner Construction survey of green buildings found that 70 percent of school districts with green schools reported reduced student absenteeism and improved student performance.

A new look at green building

Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition, taking into account the building’s entire lifecycle impact. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, is being applied in many districts.

Typically associated with increased initial costs, green building is not even considered an option by many school districts in this age of pinched budgets and increasing student populations.

But an increasing number of school districts have given green building a try—some with the aid of alternative funding, such as performance contracts that fund building enhancements and improvements through energy savings, grants and government incentives—and their success has encouraged further interest by schools across the nation.

Recent information about green building’s costs and benefits, as well as new legislation and incentives in many states, has contributed to an increased interest in green building for schools.

The case for sustainable schools

With four times as many occupants per square foot as offices, schools must pay particular attention to their indoor environments. Schools contain a host of pollution sources, including lab chemicals, cleaning supplies, chalk dust, and molds. Inadequate ventilation results in the build-up of contaminants, including CO2, which can cause drowsiness and reduce a child’s ability to concentrate.

Green building strategies, such as high performance HVAC and lighting systems, increase a building’s IAQ and acoustics, among other qualities, which have a significant impact on teacher performance and student achievement.

There are also financial benefits to faster learning and better test scores. An increase in test scores from 50 percent to 84 percent is associated with a 12-percent increase in annual earnings after graduation, according to Greening America’s Schools: Costs and Benefits, a study sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, American Institute of Architects, American Lung Association, Federation of American Scientists, and the U.S. Green Building Council. (http://www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F9819.pdf)

Research also suggests that green building can directly benefit schools through decreased operational costs, freeing up budget to fund teachers and other expenditures that directly impact student learning. Using an average of 33 percent less energy than conventionally designed schools, green schools not only pay lower utility bills than conventional schools, they also have the potential to help lower market-wide energy costs by contributing to reduced demand. Given ever-increasing fuel costs and limited supply, the benefits of energy efficiency can only increase, perhaps exponentially.

Green Schools use an average of 33% less energy than conventionally designed schools.

Beyond energy costs, green building aims to reduce schools’ use of other resources. For example, green construction can lead to a 32 percent reduction in water use cutting costs for both the school and society in general through reduced infrastructure costs, according to Greening America’s Schools.

Considerations for going green

If you’ve decided to try on the potential benefits of green building in your school system, there are a few crucial considerations ahead.

Budget is the first issue. When building green, schools must plan for slightly higher initial costs, but keep in mind that green building will create savings that will almost always pay for the added costs.

A few options exist that could ease this budget burden. For example, explore funding alternatives, such as performance contracting, which provide financing for facility improvements that have longer-term payback through guaranteed energy savings, as well as incentives from state and federal agencies.

Some green schools are built on the same budget as conventional schools.

One school district that took this approach was Charlotte-Mecklenberg in North Carolina. The district cut energy costs by a half million dollars through a PACTTM (Performance Agreement for Comfort with Trane) project. Through the 12-year contract, Trane upgraded Charlotte-Mecklenberg schools to a high-performance HVAC system that significantly reduced energy, water and operational expenses. The PACT program allows the school system to pay for the improvements with the estimated $550,000 savings it will accrue through the renovations.

Along with its many potential benefits, green building also demands a careful, thorough approach. Consider the following steps in order to ensure your system’s green building success:

• Assemble a team with your district’s demands in mind - The school’s design and planning staff should select architects, engineers, and systems solutions providers who fully understand the district’s financial and performance objectives and can work closely with district administrators to develop solutions.  
• Set clear goals for the project. This might include reducing energy consumption, designing superior learning environments, increasing student performance, improving health and safety, supporting community values, sustainable operation, meeting community objectives, or others.
• Use a whole-building approach that takes all the building’s systems and how they interact with one another into consideration. An integrated approach will lead to optimal building and occupant performance and also help secure funding through government grants and incentives.
• Consider LEED certification. The LEED certification and documentation process is becoming more user-friendly and the process is now entirely on-line.  Steps to LEED:
  • Register your intent to certify before breaking ground. 
  • Submit design phase credits at the early stages and then move to the construction phase, enabling your team to receive ongoing feedback throughout the project’s progression.
  • Once the building is completed and all the documents have been submitted, USGBC will review the building and award a LEED certification based on how many points the project earned.  LEED on-line is currently available for new construction, commercial interiors and existing building applications.
• Learn from your peers - there are many. Your local U.S. Green Buildings Council chapter will be able to help you find a green school in your area.

USGBC has launched LEED for Schools, a market-specific application of LEED that recognizes the unique nature and educational aspects of the design and construction of K-12 schools. The rating system is based on LEED for New Construction and addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention, and joint use of facilities. The program launch (no pilot period will take place) is supported by a full set of tools tailored to schools: a reference guide, workshop, and LEED Online with credit templates. In doing so, USGBC hopes to help school districts across the country better understand the business case for building green and to help them to implement their green building goals through a third-party certification program that is supported by educational offerings and a nationwide network of LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC chapters and members. School districts can implement LEED without the additional cost of establishing in-house certification programs.

For more information on the LEED for Schools program, go to www.usgbc.org/leed

This article was originally posted 7/23/07.