5 Steps Toward Sustainable Building Design in Schools

Schools are often the most outdated and neglected in terms of building improvement and maintenance. Millions of children walk the halls each day in buildings that suck vast resources in the form of energy, water, and waste products. Sustainable building design and eco-friendly developments in everything from rainwater irrigation to green exit signs can help cut costs, improve health and safety, and teach our children that green is good.

Here are five money-saving ways to “green” our schools:

1. Photoluminescent Products: School districts spend thousands of dollars each year on operation and maintenance of school emergency exit signs, and examples of how to reduce these costs include the use of photoluminescent products. These signs are powered solely by the ambient light from standard fluorescent lighting. There are no electrical parts. There are no toxic, self-luminous agents. These green exit signs are 100% recyclable and reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 500,000 pounds annually, per 100 signs installed.

2. Highly-reflective and Green Roofs: Sustainable building design can start right at the top of the building with the use of non-standard roofing materials. Simple high-reflection roofing has increased durability over that of common roofing, and it also allows a bounce-off effect of direct sunlight, reducing cooling costs. Green Roofs, or full roof gardens, reduce the costs of air conditioning further, increase roofing longevity by 30-50 years, and provide valuable “green space” for students to utilize and enjoy.

3. Clean Air Design: Previous generations thought nothing of opening a classroom window. In the rush to build cheap schools that meet a baseline of building codes, the simple operable window has nearly perished. Ventilation in standard schools is managed through the recycling of existing in-building air supplies, circulating cold and flu viruses through the population. Greener technology brings back the open window, draws fresh air through roof venting, and utilizes heat energy from stale, expelled air to reduce energy costs. Health savings to the community can add up to millions.

4. Solar Energy: Active solar panels clearly reduce emissions and energy costs. Solar power even allows schools to make money by feeding excess power back into the public grid. Passive solar power, through use of large windows and skylights, is another way to save. This technology draws from the natural warmth of sunlight to reduce the need for powered fixtures and mechanical heating.

5. Rainwater Collection: One average-sized school saves 2 million gallons of water and 1,000 pounds in nitrogen runoff when employing rainwater collection. Tank-stored rainwater is typically used to power flush toilets, irrigate school grounds and, when properly filtered, provide tap water for the entire building. The annual cash savings can total in the tens of thousands.

Despite popular belief, sustainable building design in schools is not expensive. The total cost increase over standard design is less than 2%. Lower energy use alone can quickly counter these costs. Schools that are sustainably built benefit the community, the children, and the planet in many ways. Start your district on the path to sustainable schools, today!

To learn more about how photoluminescent exit signs can help your company become more eco-friendly and save energy dollars in the process, visit us today at http://www.GloBriteSystem.com

Author: Robert J. Hartl
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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