| May 2009 Schooldesigner Greenpiece No. 2 |
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In addition to our monthly e-newsletter, we have the Schooldesigner Greenpiece. I trust you enjoy this second issue. Special thanks go out to MARS - Bleacherman and Pella Windows as our "Greenpiece" sponsors.
We will be at the School Building Expo at the beginning of June and we hope to see many of you there! If you have not already registered, look at the bottom of this e-newsletter for some great savings. If you are already registered, send me an email. We have a few openings for our FREE Schooldesigner dinner at one of Pittsburgh's finest restaurants- it is is going to be great!
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LEED, DON'T FOLLOW
by Joel K. Sims, AIA
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Get ready. The green building movement is here to stay. I think.
Here is the proof. I think. In one week I received three different announcements highlighting companies or individuals that are experienced in green school design. The one that stood out to me the most was an attorney that had just received the status of LEED AP. In case you have had your head buried in a pile of shredded wheatboard, it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. Now that's impressive. The announcement went on to highlight the first green building lawsuit. And guess what? They can help with your next lawsuit! Yippee. Never before have I seen such a plethora of folks trying to capitalize on the green school movement. But here are some things you should know in a ever so quick lesson in becoming a Green Expert:
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 We are pleased to have BLEACHERMAN as a sponsor of the Schooldesigner Greenpiece. We have to move beyond the "throw away" mentalitly we have developed and look to refurbish and re-use where we can. If you have bleachers that are old and outdated, contact BLEACHERMAN to see how they can help!Click here for more information.
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 1. INITIAL Investment
Have you noticed that every organization wants you to put their initials beside your name? The USGBC is no different. But some initials mean more than others. Yes, you take an exam to become a LEED AP, but it doesn't mean you know what you are doing. For instance you can pass the exam and still never have completed a LEED project. But, it is a good start. So, go study for the exam, take it, pass it and get some new initials. Just remember there is a difference between accredited and licensed. Engineers and architects are licensed professionals. Architects study 5 years in college, work for about 3 years while interning at a firm and then take a test to become a registered architect (R.A.)
2. A Big Fan of LEEDS?
Me too. But they are a soccer team. So, don't mess up your first chance to make a good impression by saying "LEEDS " instead of LEED. Learn the terminology. You might be a little Ansi and not have a particulate interest in seeing a waterless urinal but flush out your inhibitions and go for it. Just don't get too excited when they ask if you do modeling.
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3. Who Am I?
Now is a good time to figure out if you are a tree hugging liberal or a resource wasting liberal. Ok. Conserve your energy. it doesn't really matter. It's not about you. Creating sustainable schools is about the next generation. You have to make a difference - not because you give a rat's ASHRAE but because student's need you to! It doesn't matter how you feel, just start making a difference.
4. LEED-ing the Way
The Green movement is about where the school technology movement was 10 years ago. The experts were out in force getting paid to develop technology plans for schools and keeping a lock on what "Cat 4" really meant. Today, almost everyone is becoming a LEED expert. If you undertake a LEED project, make sure you have someone on the team that knows what they are doing. As an architect, I just finished my first LEED project. We learned a lot in the process that will be invaluable on the next project.
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 Pella has long been a leader in the window industry. However, did you know :
More than 85% of the wood is third party certified
99% of the sawdust is recycled or reused
Over 95% of aluminum sash cladding comes from recycled aluminum
About 20% of glass is from a recycled source
Most Pella products have at least 20% recycled content
Click here to download their Commitment to Being Green Brochure. |
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 5. Point Well Taken
The LEED rating system is all about gaining points. The more points you gain, the greater the level of certification. Comparing it to a report card, it shakes out like this: Platinum (A+), Gold (A-) Silver (B+) Certified (B-). Do nothing and you get an F. Do something and you will at least get a passing grade. We don't encourage students to cheat, so don't cheat on the LEED submission process. There are a lot of loop holes and integrity is important. If you say for instance that you are going to use green cleaning products in your school, make sure you do.
6. Sign of the Times
It seems that the Us Green Building Councils' LEED rating system is about the only way to promote sustainable schools. Any questioning on my part of the current system could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or commitment to improving the environment. It is not a perfect system and in the end may cause more problems if we are not careful to be realistic and practical in the process. For instance, you can gain points by designating parking spaces for low emitting vehicles or carpoolers close to the building. So, lets promote obesity by rewarding people with spots at the front of the building. I would think that those that care enough about the environment should also care about their health and want to be a good walking distance from the school. In addition, just try to figure out what vehicles qualify to fill the often empty parking spaces. It is not an easy task to figure out what vehicles qualify.
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7.Picture This
Do you know a "Green School" when you see one? Maybe not. Surprisingly, they can look a lot like a typical school from the outside. One of the best ways to promote sustainable schools is to  make the environmental friendly elements more visible. At the Bourne - Samuel V. Champion High School they put the water cisters at the front of the school. I can't imagine a student attending that school without understanding about water conservation. In addition, at Holten - Richmond Elementary School the solar panels are very evident.
8. LEED Certified or LEED Certifiable?
Will LEED get too big and powerful for it's own good? It is easy to start chalking up the leed points while forgetting to do some very practical things to make a positive impact on the environment. For example, take a hard look at the cost for not only submitting a project for review but the countless hours it takes to document everything. We will see more schools in the future designing LEED certifiable schools and realizing the money for submission fees can go toward helping students in a much better way.
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There is still time to sign up for the School Buildign Expo!
Step 1: Register for the Expo! Use the code and register now!
Receive 20% off the advanced registration price of $595 for the full conference. A savings of $119! You must use our special discount code: SBEG9Q when registering for the full conference.
This offer only valid for new, full conference registrations made between May 5 and June 1, 2009 using the special discount code: SBEG9Q.
Once you register, email joel@schooldesigner.com and you will recieve a special invitation to our dinner, a thumb drive and free membership on collegedesigner.com
www.schoolbuildingexpo.com
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