If there is one thing any parent knows, it’s that children often learn by example. As a green-construction manager, it is really encouraging to see a new trend developing in Massachusetts: the greening of our local schools.
A recent spate of newly built LEED-certified schools and green retrofit projects is helping the next generation understand why living sustainably and limiting one’s environmental impact are so important.
At Skanska, we have frequently argued – including in this column – that no one needs to start from scratch to reap the benefits of green buildings. Even simple upgrades in lighting, mechanical and heating systems can make a big difference. With this in mind, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) launched its Green Repair Program last year, a funding program to help otherwise viable public schools fix roofs, windows, boilers and any other systems in need of renovation or repair. MSBA has invested $300 million in the program, which provides an incentive for school districts to upgrade to more energy-efficient systems.
These are upgrades that seriously pay off, as the 186 participating schools will soon learn. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings that feature high-performance systems can cut energy use in half. The money saved on a school district’s energy costs can be put into other necessary improvements, such as books, music classes or school supplies. To date, Skanska has provided project management services for 15 Green Repair Program projects, giving us a first-hand look at the extent to which the program has benefitted schools across the Commonwealth.
Belmont School Upgrade
Some public schools are receiving extensive green upgrades. In 2010, Skanska was awarded a contract to rebuild the Wellington Elementary School in Belmont. That project included the demolition of an existing two- and three-story structure, and construction of a new building configured into two buildings connected by a one-story core that houses the administrative offices, media center and music rooms.
The school, which opened for class this fall, attained LEED-platinum certification. The design incorporates numerous innovative and sustainable concepts, including geothermal wells for heating and cooling, high-efficiency mechanical systems and large windows to increase day-lighting. These green components work together to provide a sustainable learning environment, one that will decrease operating costs and reduce the school’s impact on the natural environment.
‘Deep-Green’ Solutions
But at Skanska, we believe that green doesn’t have to end at LEED. We also encourage clients to seek out “deep-green” solutions, and the Bertschi School in Seattle, is a compelling example.
The school is a private elementary school with a strong commitment to sustainability in its operations and education of students. A science classroom addition, built last year, is Washington State’s first “Living Building,” the most advanced measurement possible of sustainability in the built environment today.
A Living Building generates all of its own energy with renewable nontoxic resources, captures, treats and reuses all of its water, and operates efficiently and for maximum beauty. It is designed to have “net-zero” energy and water use, meaning that it uses no more energy and no more water than it generates itself.
The new building features a garden for students to grow food organically, cisterns for rainwater harvesting, a green roof on a walkway canopy to further reduce the heat island effect, natural ventilation, solar panels and a living wall of tropical plants to treat “grey” water, or wastewater. These elements provide an active learning environment where students have the opportunity to engage with the building’s energy- and water-saving resources.
Of all the Bertschi School’s benefits, providing a world-class example to the younger generation that emphasizes the importance of living green may prove to be the most valuable.
Paul Hewins is a general manager and executive vice president for Skanska USA’s New England region.
