Join our discussion with Facility Influencer John Rimer on Sept. 13
The Las Vegas show takes place Oct. 29-30. Members receive complimentary Elite Level access
LEED for Schools also includes a range of suggested strategies that can be considered for projects:
Those strategies can help to ensure that a school building is designed "right" in the first place. That should always be the goal, of course, but sustainable school strategies apply equally to the many existing school facilities. Unfortunately, many existing school facilities suffer from poor indoor environmental quality, including poor acoustics, poor lighting, poorly operating HVAC systems and high VOC content. In a white paper recently published by the U.S. Green Building Council titled "The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research" (See "Researching Green Schools" on page 34), the authors urge facility managers to be aware of the situation within their own schools and to obtain and share data. The number of existing facilities far exceeds the number of new ones and the issues and opportunities to be green should be considered for existing facilities as well.
There is still much to be learned regarding how to provide the best learning environment for kids, although much is also known. When the LEED for Schools rating system is carefully followed, the resulting school will meet minimum standards which are likely higher than what would otherwise have been achieved. As teams strive for higher sustainability goals, higher levels of energy efficiency and other metrics for sustainability are also achieved. Some of the greatest benefits come in the area of indoor environmental quality, as good acoustics, good air quality, good daylight and views, and low VOCs all contribute to an excellent school environment.
Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED Fellow, (hjkessler@hjkesslerassociates.com), is president of HJKessler Associates, a green building consulting firm. She has been the LEED team administrator and sustainability adviser on 14 K-12 schools and seven college and university facilities. She works closely with the Chicago Public Building Commission on their LEED for Schools programs.
Integrated Design Is Essential for LEED for Schools
LEED for Schools Targets Acoustics, IAQ and Lighting
From LEED for Schools: Tips on Green Design and Construction for Facility Managers