AASA’s Healthy School Environments and Green Schools

Yasmin Bowers, MSPHJanuary 7, 2013

Coalition for Healthier Schools Projector Director, Healthy School EnvironmentsAmerican Association of School Administrators

1

Objectives

• Background on AASA and Healthy School Environments

• Green Schools and Indoor Air Quality • IAQ in Practice– Denver Public Schools – Irving Independent School District

2

AASA and Healthy School Environments

• AASA is a national membership organization for K-12 school administrators

• Funded through an EPA cooperative agreement for 10 years

• Promote the EPA’s model of Health School Environments and Indoor Air Quality—Tools for Schools

• School Siting with EPA, SRTS, Coalition of Green Schools

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AASA’s Urban and Rural Healthy School Coaltion

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What are Green Schools?GreenSchools.net • Pillar 1: Strive for a toxics free environment• Pillar 2: Use resources sustainably• Pillar 3: Create a green and healthy space• Pillar 4: Teach, learn, engage!LEED for Existing Buildings: Sustainable Sites,

Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Operations

Green and IAQ

• There is an interaction between IAQ and health

• Green initiatives can be strategically applied to health promotion and response measures to improve health

• Schools can address overlapping IAQ and health issues with environmentally-friendly health-conscious practices

What are the benefits of Green and Healthy Schools?

• Improve Educational Outcomes

• Save Money

• Promote Greater Community Involvement

• Improve Student and Staff Health

• Improve Student Performance and Achievement

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Denver Public Schools

Integrated Design and LEED

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus

• Five buildings designed to rethink what a school can be by integrating best practices from around the country

• Project cost $48.5M, but had a $6M savings by changing design and construction standards from a 275,000ft2 to 186,000ft2 to serve the same amount of kids

• Campus was designed to resemble a college campus, and the grounds include a shared student union and regional sports complex

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus

• Environmental Features: – geothermal heating and cooling, – solar power, – daylighting, – water conservation, – environmentally friendly materials, – enhanced indoor air quality, and – optimal operational and maintenance practices

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus

• Two of the five buildings are classified as net zero-energy facilities, using only the energy that they produce.

• The campus is the first facility within the district to obtain LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

• Part of the LEED certification process includes ongoing tools and surveys that keep IAQ in the conversation.

Irving ISD

Central Control and Net Zero

Irving ISD

• The district made changes in the protocol for best learning environments by using central control over all new building components including irrigation, HVAC, lighting, clocks, fertilizer, and computers.

• For example, the district monitors its 9,000 computers, and when they’re not being used, the district remotely places them on sleep mode.

Irving ISD

• Positive results with this centralized control method:– best looking yards – $200,000 savings with the Energy Star based

computer policy

Irving ISD- Lady Bird Johnson Middle School

• Environmental Features: organic fertilizer, onsite school pulper (2x/wk vs 2x/day dumping), kitchen of the future fresh food cooked on magnetic plates, solar panels

• Cost of $33M, which is 12-15% more than non-net zero schools; est. 11-year payoff

• All teachers signed an oath on energy use what includes using communal appliances, recycling, and low plug usage

Thank you

Yasmin Bowersybowers@aasa.org