While the state has made significant headway in incorporating sustainability into the design and construction of new school buildings and campuses, “for every new sustainable school building constructed, there are thousands of existing buildings with plenty of life left in them that have the potential to be far more energy- and water-efficient,” according to the initiative’s website. In response, the initiative will capitalize on this potential and reimagine how existing schools can be renovated to enhance the learning environment and reduce energy and water usage.

In order to inspire this conversation across the state, the Division of the State Architect (DSA) — a branch of the DGS — engaged seven architectural firms to develop seven conceptual case studies in school design that will reduce energy and water consumption and result in a better learning environment on seven campuses including K–12 schools and a community college. The seven schools selected for the case studies are representative of typical building types from different eras constructed throughout California, according to a statement by the DSA.

The initiative kicked off with a regional event in Los Angeles that highlighted ways to green California’s aging school facilities using design concepts that reduce energy and water consumption. Widom led the event, which included a case study presentation and discussions at Los Angeles’ Southwest College. He said in a statement that “the ultimate goal of 7x7x7 is to initiate a conversation among school superintendents, school facilities personnel, boards of education, and other key decision makers for school construction, so that we all reimagine together how schools can be renovated to reduce energy and water usage and create great opportunities for education.”

A preview of the conceptual case studies will be presented at four regional events at schools of architecture in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo and Berkeley. A final report, to include an executive summary and the completed case studies, will be presented at a final “call to action” event in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 23. Participating firms include Aedis Architecture, headquartered in San Jose, Calif.; Omaha-headquartered DLR Group, with multiple offices throughout the state; Hamilton + Aitken of San Francisco; Minneapolis-based HGA with four California locations; Sacramento-headquartered Lionakis; Ehrlich Architects of Culver City, Calif.; and WRNS Studio of San Francisco.

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Through a program of education sessions, pre-summit training and an expo featuring scores of green products and services, the summit will highlight the wide range of policies, programs, strategies and technologies that are being actively implemented to preserve the state’s natural resources.

The summit will officially open on April 7 and feature keynote speakers; Bob Foster, a former mayor of Long Beach and past president of Southern California Edison who has also served on the Board of Governors for the California Independent Systems Operators, and California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, who has been at the forefront of vital environmental efforts, co-chairing Proposition 39 and the California Clean Energy Jobs Act.

A series of pre-summit seminars on April 6 will address vital sustainability topics, offering attendees an in-depth briefing on Prop 39 updates, best practices in school efficiency projects and resources for expanding the scope of efficiency projects. This session will feature presentations by stakeholders in all aspects of Prop 39 implementation, including the California Energy Commission, the Division of the State Architect and the California Conservation Corps.

Also on April 6, the Clean Cities Sacramento and East Bay Coalitions will host a day-long Clean Transportation Efficiencies Forum covering strategies for reducing petroleum use, efficiencies gained from alternative fuels and incentives for clean vehicles and infrastructure. A zero net energy (ZNE) workshop for state and local governments, facilitated by the New Buildings Institute with co-sponsorship by Green Technology, in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission, also will take place April 6.

On April 7 and 8, more than 20 concurrent education sessions will address a range of topics relating to green policy and practice, including codes and standards, water conservation, green schools, funding sources for energy projects plans and sustainable purchasing.

Additionally, the Clean Cities Sacramento and East Bay coalitions are hosting a day of sessions focused on carbon reduction in the transportation sector, including updates on electric vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure. The Institute for Local Government will present a local government track addressing topics like water, energy, climate and green economic development. The Office of Education and the Environment of CalRecycle will offer training on California’s K-12 environmental literacy curriculum, while a track from USGBC California will cover onsite water re-use, ZNE buildings and more.

The conference also includes an expo April 7-8, featuring more than 100 companies offering green products and services, from lighting solutions and flooring to water conservation technologies.

An opening reception will be hosted on April 6 and the event’s annual Leadership Awards reception will take place on the evening of April 7. The April 8 keynote breakfast featuring State Architect Chet Widom will also be open to all.

For more information about the summit, visit www.green-technology.org.

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The 26,000-square-foot, non-profit Rise School, which provides early childhood education services to students experiencing Downs Syndrome and other conditions, features classrooms and learning spaces specifically designed to meet more specialized learning needs. The school includes eight classrooms, flexible common areas and multi-use indoor/outdoor spaces, as well as a music room, library and physical therapy gym.

The $5.6 million Rise School earned commendations for saving 38 percent more energy than the previous facility, representing an estimated 103,785-killowatt hour reduction over previous levels. The school’s irrigation system also uses reclaimed water outside, while water-efficient plumbing fixtures further contribute to water savings inside. More than 33 percent of the building materials used in the school’s construction contained recycled content, and more than half were locally sourced. Low-emitting paints, coatings, sealants and other environmentally conscious materials further contributed to creating a healthy learning space for students.

Founded in 1990, the AEGB was the nation’s first green building program. It encourages the design and construction of more sustainable homes and buildings throughout central Texas with a mission of transforming the overall building industry to embrace a more sustainable future. Developing and maintaining its own Austin-specific sustainability rating system has also given the AEGB the flexibility to carry out aggressive climate protection goals that have paved the way for both energy and building code changes that will reduce energy use, according to the organization.

O’Connell Robertson of Austin provided architecture, MEP engineering, and interior design services for the high-performance building; Burt Watts was the construction manager.

“O’Connell Robertson is committed to sustainable design practices and meeting the goals of our clients in this area,” said Amy Jones, a principal with O’Connell Robertson. “We are proud of our team, including Burt Watts, our design consultants and the Rise School leadership for the collaboration and commitment to more efficient and healthier buildings that resulted in this award.”

School officials, donors, students and community members participated in a groundbreaking ceremony in January 2014. The school was completed in August of that year.

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“Selecting the Best of Green Schools honorees is an exciting and challenging process, as there are so many fantastic examples of efforts being made in communities large and small,” said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools, in a statement. “Some of the honorees go about their work quietly, while others are in public positions and have the attention of a national audience. Every one of the honorees is a leader, taking risks, setting an example for others, innovating and diligently pursuing a world in which every student attends a green school within this generation.”

The Monarch School, a Houston-based LEED Gold school, was honored in the K-12 category. The institution provides therapeutic education to students with neurological differences, such as autism spectrum disorder, hyperactivity, mood disorders and traumatic brain injuries, and integrates a number of green initiatives into its tailored curriculum.

Since 1997, The Monarch School’s environmental education program has offered students with special needs an opportunity to learn about the environment. The school’s Living Building Challenge (LBC) Studio Classroom was the first project in the state built to meet LBC requirements, and remains one of only five on the globe. The studio serves as an outdoor living classroom where students’ day-to-day interactive decision-making helps the building achieve net-zero energy and water performance, according to the Center for Green Schools. The school’s environmental programming also includes initiatives related to solar energy, wind power and geothermal energy, and incorporates active water harvesting.

Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo was honored in the higher education category for its recycling, energy conservation and waste reduction efforts, and for facilitating cooperative research into green manufacturing practices. Click here to read more about Western Michigan University’s green programming.

The University of Buffalo and the State University of New York, both located in Buffalo, also received an award for their collaborative efforts to educate the local community about green practices. The two universities planned and facilitated three region-wide environmental congress events to create Our Shared Agenda for Action, a blueprint for action on regional environmental issues. These events also inspired the creation of an environmental alliance that now includes more than 100 environmental organizations working in the areas of energy and climate change, transportation, food, habitat, environmental justice, parks and recreation, urban regeneration, and waste and pollution.

A complete list of winners in all categories can be found on the USGBC Center for Green Schools website.
 

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Through an expo with more than 100 companies offering green products and services, and special events including a leadership awards reception, the summit allows public and private sector stakeholders to discover innovations in green and sustainable technologies, policies, teaching strategies and best practices, helping them save money, improve learning environments and reduce environmental impacts.

This year several sessions focus on Proposition 39 funding and maintaining operations during the state’s prolonged drought, which has now reached critical levels in many communities. Proposition 39, also known as the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, will make approximately $550 million available for energy efficiency and clean energy projects in the state’s schools annually through fiscal year 2018-2019.

Sessions like “Finding Value in Prop 39” and “Leveraging Energy-Related Prop 39 Money” will help attendees navigate the act, capitalize on the available funding and offer an opportunity to share related tips and best practices. Meanwhile “The Drought — Impacts and Solutions for Schools” and “School Gardens and Water Conservation” will offer practical advice for managing the state’s ongoing water shortage and creating an institutional culture of water conservation.

Multiple sessions will also focus on high performance schools, net-zero facilities and developing and implementing sustainability-focused curriculums and initiatives.

Keynote speakers for the opening session on Nov. 5 will be Rear Admiral Len Hering and Senator Fran Pavley. As Commander of the Navy Region Southwest, Admiral Hering developed groundbreaking programs in energy, water and waste management, setting standards that have influenced practices throughout the Department of Defense. He currently serves as executive director of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

Before entering politics, Senator Pavley was a middle school teacher for nearly three decades. She later authored the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act, as well as legislation that led to the development of the nation’s first K-12 environmental literacy curriculum. She currently serves as the chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Attendees can accrue Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for both the International Code Council and Build it Green by attending specific sessions. Renewal points are also available through the Construction Management Association of America, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will offer credits for selected sessions.

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In designing this innovative 207,000-square-foot school, STR designers, who collaborated with a team from NIA Architects of Chicago, took care to make the building itself a lesson in sustainability. According to a statement by the firm, the building and site were intentionally designed to educate users about sustainable design, by showcasing energy-saving and environmental features. As the school is named for pioneering freed slave Sarah E. Goode, who was herself an inventor, furniture designer, business owner and the first African American women to hold a U.S. patent, innovation and forward thinking were key.

Visitors to the modern and colorful Ashburn neighborhood school are greeted by low-maintenance vegetation, meandering walking paths and a permeable, low-albedo parking lot. Tucked among the ball fields and sidewalks are several picnic areas and benches where both students and community members are encouraged to sit and enjoy the space. A centrally located council circle also serves as an outdoor learning space, as do the school’s learning, reading and rain gardens.

Blending the interior and exterior is a surprisingly lush garden on the school’s green roof. Here, trees that were removed during construction have found a new home thanks to a creative design by American Hydrotech. These reintroduced trees don’t just provide shade, but have even helped establish a lively bird habitat.

The three-story, steel fame and masonry school also utilizes multiple natural energy sources, which contributed greatly to its LEED Platinum points. A geo-exchange heat pump system provides for the majority of the building’s heating and cooling needs, while a solar thermal hot water heating system keeps the school’s six-lane swimming pool comfortable for students. The low-flow fixtures throughout the $62 million facility also contribute to its sustainability efforts, and non-potable water is diverted from the roof and funneled into the onsite community gardens.

A number of sustainable features were also built directly into the structure itself. From large windows, provided by Wausau Window and Wall Systems, to facilitate interior daylighting, to a demand control ventilation system, the Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy has all their environmental bases covered. By also using regional materials, as well as those with high levels of recyclable content, the school took a very holistic approach to sustainability.

Inside, the 1,200-student high school features several STEM labs, science labs, visual arts classrooms and a state of the art library and media resource center. These facilities support the school’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based curriculum, which also allows students to earn college credit. Both indoor and outdoor athletic areas are available to students, as well as a raised stage for performances with impressive lighting, rigging and acoustic systems. A college resource center, green room and distance learning labs round out this school’s comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to education.

Awards
2013 Brick in Architecture – Gold for Education
2013 Learning by Design Publisher’s Commendation Award
2013 Friends of the Chicago River Green Ribbon
2013 Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Award
2013 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Award of Engineering Excellence

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