AASA’s Healthy School Environments and Green Schools Yasmin Bowers, MSPH January 7, 2013 Coalition for Healthier Schools Projector Director, Healthy School Environments American Association of School Administrators 1

Objectives Background on AASA and Healthy School Environments Green Schools and Indoor Air Quality IAQ in Practice – Denver Public Schools – Irving Independent School District 2

AASA and Healthy School Environments AASA is a national membership organization for K-12 school administrators Funded through an EPA cooperative agreement for 10 years Promote the EPA’s model of Health School Environments and Indoor Air Quality—Tools for Schools School Siting with EPA, SRTS, Coalition of Green Schools 3

AASA’s Urban and Rural Healthy School Coaltion 4

What are Green Schools? GreenSchools.net Pillar 1: Strive for a toxics free environment Pillar 2: Use resources sustainably Pillar 3: Create a green and healthy space Pillar 4: Teach, learn, engage! LEED for Existing Buildings: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Operations

Green and IAQ There is an interaction between IAQ and health Green initiatives can be strategically applied to health promotion and response measures to improve health Schools can address overlapping IAQ and health issues with environmentally-friendly health-conscious practices

What are the benefits of Green and Healthy Schools? Improve Educational Outcomes Save Money Promote Greater Community Involvement Improve Student and Staff Health Improve Student Performance and Achievement 8

Denver Public Schools Integrated Design and LEED

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus Five buildings designed to rethink what a school can be by integrating best practices from around the country Project cost $48.5M, but had a $6M savings by changing design and construction standards from a 275,000ft 2 to 186,000ft 2 to serve the same amount of kids Campus was designed to resemble a college campus, and the grounds include a shared student union and regional sports complex

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus Environmental Features: – geothermal heating and cooling, – solar power, – daylighting, – water conservation, – environmentally friendly materials, – enhanced indoor air quality, and – optimal operational and maintenance practices

Denver Public Schools- Evie Garrett Dennis Campus Two of the five buildings are classified as net zero-energy facilities, using only the energy that they produce. The campus is the first facility within the district to obtain LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Part of the LEED certification process includes ongoing tools and surveys that keep IAQ in the conversation.

Irving ISD Central Control and Net Zero

Irving ISD The district made changes in the protocol for best learning environments by using central control over all new building components including irrigation, HVAC, lighting, clocks, fertilizer, and computers. For example, the district monitors its 9,000 computers, and when they’re not being used, the district remotely places them on sleep mode.

Irving ISD Positive results with this centralized control method: – best looking yards – $200,000 savings with the Energy Star based computer policy

Irving ISD- Lady Bird Johnson Middle School Environmental Features: organic fertilizer, onsite school pulper (2x/wk vs 2x/day dumping), kitchen of the future fresh food cooked on magnetic plates, solar panels Cost of $33M, which is 12-15% more than non-net zero schools; est. 11-year payoff All teachers signed an oath on energy use what includes using communal appliances, recycling, and low plug usage

Thank you Yasmin Bowers