1. Integrate Wind Energy
Rural elementary and secondary schools in some states may want to consider participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind for Schools project. Wind for Schools provides project consultants to help establish small wind turbine installations at rural elementary and secondary schools, and then supports the installation with teacher training and hands-on curricula.

Wind for Schools also has the joint benefit of training higher education students to serve as its project consultants. Balancing education and sustainability, Wind for Schools’ specific goals are to equip college juniors and seniors with an education in wind energy applications; to engage communities in wind energy applications, benefits and challenges; and to introduce both teachers and students to wind energy.

Currently the program is only available to schools in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Virginia. However, more than 145 wind turbines — primarily 2.4-kilowatt turbines on 70-foot guyed or 60-foot monopole towers — have already been installed throughout participating states. Participating schools can also monitor kilowatt-hours produced, utility dollars saved and average kilowatt-hours used per month and per year via the Wind for Schools online portal.
More information is available at The U.S. Department of Energy website, www.energy.gov.

2. Join the USGBC — For Free
In September 2015, the USGBC’s Center for Green Schools invited K-12 schools and school districts to take advantage of one free year of membership.

Understanding the unique financial and sustainability challenges and needs faced by K-12 schools and districts, the Center for Green Schools is committed to supporting green school efforts, according to the organization’s website. In addition to all the member benefits associated with a school or district’s USGBC organizational membership, the Center for Green Schools also offers additional support and resources for schools and school districts, including an invitation and scholarship eligibility to the organization’s annual School Sustainability Leaders Summit; complementary registrations and reduced membership rates for the Center for Green School’s Green Classroom Certificate program; access to resources such as the Paid from Savings Guide to Green Existing Buildings, the online Existing Schools Toolkit and regular webcasts for school staff and leadership; eligibility to submit content to be featured on the Center for Green Schools blog; and the Monthly Center for Green Schools digest.

Schools and school districts can sign up for a free year of USGBC membership at www.centerforgreenschools.org.

3. Pick the Right Site
While schools and universities may not have limitless options when it comes to site selection for a new project, renovation or expansion, selecting the right site can result in both long-term cost savings and environmental benefits.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers a comprehensive, free-to- use school siting guidelines document that helps schools and universities make the best use of often-scarce resources by deciding whether to renovate an existing school, build a new school on a current site, or build a new facility on a new site. It can also guide school and university leaders through decisions related to acquiring land for school facilities, using legacy properties or leasing space; and renovating or reusing existing properties and structures.

The guidelines are specifically intended to help officials make efficient use of energy, avoid costly and dangerous student exposure to pollution and hazardous substances, locate schools near public transportation and potentially design school facilities to double as emergency shelters.

The guidelines outline financial considerations for school siting, such as the cost for mitigating or reducing environmental risks and long-term stewardship of remediation measures. Further, they give specific information regarding high performance and green schools with energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, safe materials and reduced environmental impact goals. They also lead officials carefully through the environmental review process, evaluating the impact of air pollution, and a variety of environmental threats such as mold, chemicals, pesticides, polluted soils and historic fill.

The School Siting Guidelines document is available on the EPA website, www.epa.gov.

Learn more in the July/August issue of School Construction News, available soon.
 

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Asbestos was found during a renovation of windows as part of the state’s green improvements plan.

“The school was built in the early 1950s and we expected we’d find some asbestos — we just didn’t expect to find it there,” said Bob Sinibaldi, the town’s building inspector.

The asbestos was discovered on Thursday, April 12 and the school was closed on Friday for testing and analysis of the material, which found that the asbestos was not released into the rest of the school.

Since the asbestos is not life-threatening, children have since been allowed to return to school. The district is monitoring the remaining asbestos.

“Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website. “These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed in some manner or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.”

The asbestos at Sweetsir was not released into the air, so the agency recommends careful managing, not removing, the asbestos.

The school was inspected by Framingham, Mass.-based Universal Environmental Consultants. The company performed air and wipe sample tests, all of which confirmed that no hazardous materials had entered the air or surfaces around the school.

Although the situation wasn’t life-threatening, faculty and school officials said they took the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the students and staff.

“When schools and children are involved, there are extra precautions and more guidelines to be followed. The Merrimac Board of Health and Merrimac Building Inspector are closely monitoring the situation,” wrote Sweetsir principal Mary Beth Shea in her online blog for the school.

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