GEF Editorials
Green Buildings
Green buildings have been around for thousands of years even if no one would have called them that until recently. The Romans made use of what we call passive solar techniques to keep their buildings cool in the hot Italian sun. Unfortunately, by the 20th century these sensible, simple methods were ignored. It became so inexpensive to heat spaces that energy conservation was not a priority in the building industry at that time. For many reasons, this is no longer viable. Our buildings need to utilize energy and water in a much more efficient way. Fortunately, this spreading realization has been accompanied by a host of new technologies and building techniques. One area where this is an acute problem for everyone is with public buildings. Our tax dollars support and maintain these buildings so it’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure that they operate as efficiently as possible. Some of the largest, oldest and, thus, most inefficient buildings are schools. Many of these behemoths are over fifty years old; others are plagued with shoddy construction. Most are energy vacuums, sucking up fuel (and money) and blowing it out drafty doors, leaky windows and poorly insulated walls.
The need to ‘green’ these buildings is clear. Schools spend over $6 billion nationwide on energy each year, many spending more on energy than school supplies.The Consortium for Energy Efficiency contends that schools waste up to 25% of energy due to poorly designed or operated systems and procedures. The US Department of Energy estimates that schools could save up to 50% of their energy costs by adopting fairly simple energy-saving measures and renovations. Some estimates suggest that achieving a 25% reduction in energy costs would save a staggering $1.5 billion. These savings could fund 30,000 new teacher salaries, 40 million textbooks or hundreds of thousands of computers.
A growing body of research indicates that indoor air quality has a pronounced effect on the health, well-being and productivity of occupants. This is particularly true of young people who are more sensitive to pollutants. Improving ventilation and the heating/cooling systems can help prevent asthma and sickness as well as increase student performance. A healthy environment and indoor air quality need to be considered vital components of any and all schools.
The good news is that retrofitting existing buildings is easier than ever before and the Green Education Foundation (GEF) is committed to helping schools accomplish these goals while simultaneously educating students on the importance of green buildings and energy and resource efficiency. GEF has created the Green Schools Initiative for this purpose. The Green Schools Initiative, launching in September 2009, is a multi-faceted effort that will provide students with valuable skills and aid schools by creating a focus for their capital management plans.
© 2009 GEF
Fostering the new generation of environmental stewards. All rights reserved.
Fostering the new generation of environmental stewards. All rights reserved.
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