11.0 Resources for Schools
OBERLIN'S LEWIS CENTER RAISES ENVIRONMENTAL BAR
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College not only serves to educate students, but also acts as a living model for environmental building.
-- Michael Reis, Environmental Design & Construction, 2000
Well over 1,000 school communities from across Canada are in the process of transforming their grounds. ...We have heard about and seen many incredible changes to school grounds, of which the following are just a few examples: butterfly and bird gardens, raised vegetable gardens, rock piles, May poles, outdoor murals, restored cranberry bogs, asphalt painting, amphitheatres, stone sculpture, the creation of ponds and the restoration of streams. Archways, interactive sundials, insect habitats, benches and social areas for students, shade structures, small nurseries for native trees and plants, berms and swales, and woven baskets around young trees.
-- Cam Collyer, National Manager Learning Grounds, Evergreen Foundation, 1999
| Program |
Destination Conservation British Columbia |
| Contact / Resource |
1730 - 401 West Georgia
ph (604) 669-6298
fax (604) 662-3411
E-mail: dcbc@dcplanet.org
http://www.dcplanet.org |
| Description |
- Although this program is primarily set up for retrofits of existing schools, if the School District shows an interest in the goals of Destination Conservation, their BC office would be glad to help.
- The goal of Destination Conservation is to help school districts reduce energy and water consumption and waste production through conservation programs and activities.
- "Destination Conservation" offers support for schools that want to retrofit their building and change behaviour to conserve energy, water and money including:
- An energy audit of each school.
- A report with recommended conservation measures--both low-cost short-term changes and long-term retrofits with somewhat longer payback periods.
- A comprehensive education program that can support and augment a retrofit program.
|
| Program |
Learning Grounds Program for Schools
The Evergreen Foundation |
| Contact / Resource |
VANCOUVER OFFICE: #410-744 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1A5
Phone: (604) 689-0766
Fax: (604) 669-6222
Email: infobc@evergreen.ca
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/lg.html |
| Description |
Resources to transform school grounds, including:
- Evergreen and Enbridge Consumers Gas Grant Application 2000: a grant for Learning Grounds Program that supports the planting of native species of trees and shrubs in school grounds.
- The Learning Grounds Resource Package.
- School Board Guidelines for naturalization projects.
- A list of contacts for other school ground naturalization organizations in Canada and around the world.
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| Program |
Active and Safe Routes to School Program
Go For Green |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.goforgreen.ca/home_e.html |
| Description |
- This is a national Canadian program to encourage the use of active modes of transportation to and from school. This site would be useful for school administrators or those wanting to set up a similar program.
- The benefits include:
- increased physical activity
- a healthier lifestyle for the whole family
- less traffic congestion around schools
- safer, calmer streets and neighbourhoods
- improved air quality and a cleaner environment.
- This site has information on:
- Success Stories
- Pilot Projects
- Case Studies
- Resources
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| Program |
SolarQuest Program
EcoSage Corporation |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.solarquest.com |
| Description |
- Although this is an American program, Canadian schools are allowed to apply.
- Involvement in SolarQuest starts by enrolling in the program and working toward the installation of a PhotoVoltaic system in the school or community.
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| Web Resource |
BC Teachers Federation |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.bctf.bc.ca/ |
| Description |
- The BC Teachers Federation has extensive resources for teachers on indoor air quality in schools, including providing the Healthy Schools Handbook which focuses on indoor air quality at half price for locals.
- There are also extensive resources on linking the environment and education.
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| Program |
High Performance School Buildings Resource and Strategy Guide
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.sbicouncil.org/store/hpsb_rsg.php |
| Description |
- The Hihg Performance School Buildongs Resource and Strategy Guide is available through this website, and is an excellent and practical resource for greening schools, with information on:
- 1/Process, 2/ "Building Blocks", and 3/ Case Studies.
- The "Building Blocks" portion of the Handbook is divided into 17 areas of interest:
- Acoustic Comfort
- Commissioning
- Daylighting
- Durability
- Energy Analysis Tools
- Energy-Efficient Building Shell
- Environmentally Preferable Materials and Products
- Environmentally Responsive Site Planning
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- High- Performance HVAC
- High-Performance Electric Lighting
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis
- Renewable Energy
- Safety and Security
- Superior Indoor Air Quality
- Thermal Comfort
- Visual Comfort
- Water Efficiency
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|
| Program |
US Solar Schools Program |
| Contact / Resource |
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| Description |
Although this site is targeted towards US schools, it has a lot of practical information for Canadian schools that want to incorporate solar or other renewable energy, including:
- Monthly e-mail newsletter is also on the website (to receive it via e-mail send an e-mail requesting that to: Vmast@aol.com).
- A video about Schools Going Solar will be ready by mid-March.
- The Schools Going Solar booklet.
- The Florida Solar Energy Center's curriculum for teaching about solar energy is downloadable, free of charge.
- Links to other websites.
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| Program |
EnergySmart Schools Program
US Department of Energy and Rebuild America |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.eren.doe.gov/energysmartschools/ |
| Description |
This site has:
- Case studies of energy success and financing success
- Information on green building technology:
- Building Shell Improvements
- Lighting Systems
- Mechanical Systems
- Computer-Related Equipment
- Food Preparation & Storage Equipment
- Solar & Wind Systems
- Sustainability Practices
- Utilities Systems
- Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems
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| Program |
Building Our Children's Future -- Traveling Trunk
The Center for Resourceful Building Technology (CRBT) |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.crbt.org/ |
| Description |
- The CRBT is a non-profit group who promotes environmentally sensitive construction practices. Its mission is "to serve as both catalyst and facilitator in encouraging building technologies which realize a sustainable and efficient use of resources."
- It does this through research, education and demonstration.
- It's research includes its flagship publication, The Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements. This is an annual reference directory of over 425 building materials that a/ make efficient use of limited natural resources; b/ demonstrate recyclability or renewability; or c/ use lower energy.
- CRBT fulfills its mandate to educate the public through a variety of formal and informal means, including a K-12 curriculum for school kids (called the Building Our Children's Future-- Traveling Trunk); and workshops, presentations and seminars for professionals.
- Its demonstration mandate it fulfilled through numerous sustainable house examples.
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| Program |
Green Schools
US Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.ase.org/section/program/greenschl/ |
| Description |
- This program provides assistance to existing schools use energy efficiently.
- Provides help with building retrofits, operational and maintenance changes, and behavioral changes.
- Program assists students, teachers, custodians, administrators, and the broader community to work together.
|
| Web Resource |
Destination Conservation Schools in British Columbia |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.dcplanet.org |
| Description |
- For a list of schools that are participating in Destination Conservation click on the DC icon and the DC schools button
- For a description of the program, click on the DC icon and the "What is DC" button.
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| Web Resource |
Seattle City Light Case Studies |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/sustainability/ |
| Description |
This site has case studies in the following areas:
- Better Learning Environments
- Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania, Hastings Public School District, Hastings, Nebraska, Seattle Public School District, Seattle, Washington, Poudre School District, Fort Collins, Colorado, Johnson County, North Carolina
- Increased Comfort
- Increased Market Value and R.O.I.
- Increased Retail Sales
- On the Bottom Line
- Productivity Improvements
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| Web Resource |
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.oberlin.edu/newserv/esc/Default.html |
| Description |
This exemplary building features:
- Passive solar,
- PV roof,
- Daylighting,
- Biological waste water sewage treatment, Irrigation with captured rainwater.
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| Web Resource |
Georgia Institute of Technology's Sustainable Education Building |
| Contact / Resource |
http://www.gatech.edu/ |
| Description |
The Sustainable Education Building (SEB) is a 30,000 square foot building that is intended to serve as a "living laboratory" for the education, research and application of sustainable technologies. |
| Web Resource |
Roy Lee Walker Sustainable Elementary, Texas |
| Contact / Resource |
|
| Description |
Children attending this school will:
- study wind and solar energy
- water their plants with harvested rainwater
Environmental design features include:
- geothermal heating and cooling,
- recycled building materials,
- rainwater collection for campus irrigation and toilet flushing,
- thirty-foot windmill,
- daylight in each classroom,
- outdoor teaching spaces
Funded by a grant from the Texas General Services Commission/State Energy Conservation Office. Expected four year payback. |
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