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
3
AASA’s Urban and Rural Healthy School Coaltion
4
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
8
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
