Cost-Effective Design for Green Schools

An integrated system design at Central Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Services, Mount Pleasant, helped the facility exceed expectations and achieve a LEED gold rating

The notion that sustainable design always means higher costs has many schools and universities hesitant to adopt green building practices. However, the decision not to go green may end up costing more in long-term operating costs.

According to an article in October's American School & University, education institutions should take an integrated approach to sustainability, incorporating it into the building process and choosing sustainable design features that reduce construction and operating costs over the life of a building.

When budget and sustainability are a priority, architects should design a project with a comprehensive understanding of how the final building systems will operate and make thoughtful design decisions that will enable these systems to work together to serve multiple purposes.

The article also contends that although some green features have a higher upfront cost than their non-sustainable counterparts, certain design decisions may promote sustainability at no extra cost. For instance, building orientation, geometry and existing site features affect what kinds of green design features can be used.

Every design decision is important, but when it comes to how the building operates, educating building users to be environmentally aware is just as critical as thoughtful design. By establishing concrete, well-defined goals, working with designers to make careful decisions, and taking into account how these decisions affect one another, educators will find that it is possible to have a facility that fits their educational needs, their desire for sustainability and their budget.