The U.S. Green Building Council Georgia Chapter has been awarded a seed grant from Turner Foundation to enhance two programs, one for high schools and the other for elementary and middle schools, that will engage 200 schools for the 2011-2012 school year. The programs are part of the Chapter’s High Performance, Healthy Schools initiative, which helps schools effectively implement sustainability projects.
To track results and progress of the programs, students affiliated with the International Knowledge & Research Center for Green Building at Southern Polytechnic State University will manage data entry, including two years of historical school performance data. They will use the newly developed Sustainability Dashboard, a unique web-based service that makes tracking sustainability initiatives affordable and easy.
The high school program is called “Green YOUR School” and is part of the SkillsUSA Competition in partnership with the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. Students compete by completing tasks in three areas: submission of a LEED for Existing Buildings scorecard for their school, submission of an energy audit, and the development and implementation of a student conservation program. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the green building rating system created by the USGBC.
The elementary and middle school program is a partnership with the Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta, United Parcel Service and the USGBC Georgia Chapter. Volunteers from UPS help Girl Scout Troops establish “Sustainability Teams” in their elementary and middle schools. The teams help the school systems reduce significant costs in their operational budgets while instilling in the students improved conservation behaviors, which can also be taken home.
Sustainability Teams will be piloted during the 2011-2012 school year at Forsyth County Schools (suburban), Butts County Schools (rural) and various schools in the Atlanta area (urban). The teams will implement energy conservation, water conservation, recycling, and clean air school programs. BD+C
Related Stories
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Dec 28, 2014
6 trends steering today's college residence halls
University students want more in a residence hall than just a place to sleep. They want a space that reflects their style of living and learning.
| Dec 28, 2014
Using energy modeling to increase project value [AIA course]
This course, worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW, explores how to increase project value through energy modeling, as well as how to conduct quick payback and net present value studies to identify which energy strategies are most viable for the project.
| Dec 28, 2014
The lowdown on LODs: Bringing clarity to BIM
These days, BIM is par for the course across most facets of design. But a lot of the conversation surrounding BIM still lacks clarity due to ambiguous terminology, a lack of clear-cut guiding illustrations, and widely varying implementation, writes GS&P's John Scannell.
| Dec 28, 2014
The future of airport terminal design: destination status, five-star amenities, stress-free travel
Taking a cue from the hospitality industry, airport executives are seeking to make their facilities feel more like destinations, writes HOK's Richard Gammon.
| Dec 28, 2014
10 key design interventions for a healthier, happier, and more productive workplace
Numerous studies and mountains of evidence confirm what common sense has long suggested: healthy, happier workers are more productive, more likely to collaborate with colleagues, and more likely to innovate in ways that benefit the bottom line, writes Gensler's Kirsten Ritchie.
| Dec 28, 2014
7 fresh retail design strategies
Generic ‘boxes’ and indifferent service won’t cut it with today’s savvy shoppers. Retailers are seeking a technology-rich-but-handmade vibe, plus greater speed to market and adaptability.
| Dec 28, 2014
Workplace design trends: Make way for the Millennials
Driven by changing work styles, mobile technology, and the growing presence of Millennials, today’s workplaces are changing, mostly for the better. We examine the top office design trends.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA: Commercial glass façade and door systems
When it comes to selecting fenestration systems—particularly glass facades and door systems—a number of factors come into play, requiring a thorough evaluation of a project’s individual requirements.
| Dec 28, 2014
10 essential habits of successful architects
Want to take the next step as a design processional? John Gresko, Senior Project Architect with HDR, explores the traits that many great architects possess.
