Educational Facility Planning: Sustainable Strategies

LEED provides a facility planning framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. According to the USGBC:

• 20 percent of the U.S. population, students and faculty members, are housed in schools.

• Manufacturers of construction materials and systems are producing products that make them affordable and offer payback in lower utility and water bills, as well as lower long-term operational and maintenance costs.

• A study of 30 LEED-certified schools showed an average of 33.4 percent annual savings in direct energy costs, 50 percent savings in indirect energy costs and 32.1 percent savings in water costs.

ENERGY STAR is another criteria to examine when planning for sustainability in schools. It is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that focuses on improving energy performance in buildings as a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

According to an article in January's American School & University, schools should look at LEED certification, an ENERGY STAR rating, or sustainable design principles, identifing the advantages and disadvantages of each to make the right decision. The article gives real-world examples of each option.