The Green School:

Exploring the (Im)possibilities

March 2012

PresentersKeith TimkoBrian Keenan

AgendaI. Poll: What is a Green School?II. Types of green elements and costsIII.Stories and lessons learnedIV.Steps and Resources

Whether it is green construction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, or more efficient operations, there is a balance that needs to be struck between what is financially and logistically possible for green schools and what is readily achievable.  This session offers participants a chance to share their stories and to discuss what kinds of steps schools can easily take to be greener and where the gaps exist between aspirations and reality.

About Us

Build with Purpose is a nonprofit real estate development organization specializing in charter facilities such as charter schools. Since our inception in 2003 we have developed 18 charter schools with total development costs exceeding $110 million serving 5,500 children.

An Integrated Approach• Charter Schools- Working to take the burden of facility

development off the hands of charter schools so they can focus on education.

• Garden State Schools Initiative- Increasing access to healthy foods by establishing healthy living practices, finding sustainable resources, and providing healthy meal options in schools.

• Energy Efficiency- Bringing a variety of nonprofits energy efficiency and renewable energy options.

• Tech for School- Helping schools stabilize technology costs though creating virtual desktop interface systems which enables a single PC to be shared by multiple users.

What is a green school?

http://www.greenschools.net/

But what makes a school green?Curriculum

Community outreach

Green Cleaning Products

Recycling Program

Renewable Energy

Energy Efficiency

Recycled materials

Conservation

GardensHealthy lunches

Notable Examples

The Willow School, Gladstone, NJ

Notable Examples

Learning Gate Community School, Lutz, FL

Notable Examples

Unity Charter School, Morristown, NJ

The Impossibilities

• Limited funds and additional costs• Can’t do it all or even a fraction of

what we would like• Cost effectiveness of measures• Government programs don’t work

well for charter schools

•

The Possibilities

• “Start where you are. Use what you’ve got. Do what you can.”

--Arthur Ashe

• Small steps are still worthwhile.• Be realistic and practical

•

The Possibilities

• Rehab of existing space is inherently “green building”

• Electricity through a third-party electric supplier (ACES Program)

• Grants for motion detectors and more efficient lighting (Direct Install)

• Partners for a school garden (City Green)• Other school lunch providers (Revolution

Foods)• Community health initiatives (Alliance for

Healthier Generation)• Renewable Energy (Build with Purpose)

•

Construction/Renovations

• Rehab of existing space is inherently “green building”

• Often new systems are part of the scope of work.

• Look for most cost-effective measures first• Don’t get hung up on LEED certification

“Elementary school students in classrooms with the most daylight showed a 21% improvement in learning rates compared to students in classrooms with the least daylight.”

Electricity Savings

• ACES (the Alliance for Competitive Energy Services) is an electric and natural gas aggregation program.

• Savings of approximately 15% on annual utility bills.

• Carol Friedman, ACES Coordinator at 732/296-0770 or Carol.Friedman@ACES-NJ.com.

•

Energy Efficiency

• Direct Install program—• http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial

-industrial/programs/direct-install• Walk-through energy audit• Grant dollars towards energy efficiency

upgrades—70% of the cost

•

Energy Efficiency

Greater Brunswick Charter School: New Brunswick, NJ

Electricity Electricity Use:Use:

Gas Use:Gas Use:

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

COCO22:: 25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

25 tons of 25 tons of COCO22

School Gardens

• Found good partners like City Green---http://www.citygreenonline.org/

• Are achievable even with very, very little outdoor space

• Assistance with curriculum connections

•

School Lunch Providers

• Schools have looked into switching lunch providers

• Social enterprises like Revolution Foods are entering the space in NJ

• Assistance is available from other schools and Build with Purpose to look at financial implications of switching lunch providers.

•

Renewable Energy

• Still waiting to see with Power Purchase Agreements for solar

• Roof space and roof conditions are challenging

• High cost-of-entry• www.bwpurpose.org

•

Healthy Communities

• What is going on in your municipality? Your county?

• Broader initiatives like the Alliance for a Healthier Generation http://www.healthiergeneration.org

• Partnerships with food pantries like NJ Food Bank backpack program

• http://www.njfoodbank.org/programs/kids-division/backpack-program

•

Build with Purpose PortfolioNewark Educators’ Community Charter School

Newark, NJ•Completion Date: August 2009•Size: 28,000 sq. ft.•Students Served: 450, K-8•Architect: Newwork LLC•Contractor: Artco Contracting and Development•Total Interior Development Costs: $1 Million•Financing/Lender: Victoria Foundation

Build with Purpose PortfolioJersey City Community Charter School

Jersey City, NJ•Completion Date: November 2008•Size: 24,000 sq. ft.•Students Served: 600, K-8•Architect: Jamel Kizel•Contractor: La Rocca•Total Development Costs: $7.7 Million•Financing/Lender: The Reinvestment Fund

Build with Purpose PortfolioTeaneck Community Charter School

Teaneck, NJ•Completion Date: August 2009•Size: 36,000 sq. ft.•Students Served: 306, K-8•Architect: Gertler & Wente Architects•Contractor: La Rocca•Total Development Costs: $11 Million•Financing/Lender: Hamlin Capital and New Jersey Community Capital-Tax Exempt Bonds

Useful Links and Resources

U.S. EPA - ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districtshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12

U.S. Dept of Energy - EnergySmart Schoolshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)http://www.chps.net/

U.S. Green Buildings Council – Green School Buildingshttp://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx

Useful Links and ResourcesAlliance to Save Energy – Green Schools Programhttp://ase.org/section/program/greenschl/ National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities - Green Schools Programhttp://www.ncef.org/green-schools/index.cfm#resource-lists Sustainable Buildings Industry Council - High-Performance School Buildings Programhttp://www.sbicouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=98

Useful Links and Resources

U.S. EPA - ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districtshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12

U.S. Dept of Energy - EnergySmart Schoolshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)http://www.chps.net/

U.S. Green Buildings Council – Green School Buildingshttp://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx

Useful Links and ResourcesNREL – National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schoolshttp://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/31545.pdf ASHRAE - Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildingshttp://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1604 SCIC - High-Performance School Buildings Resource & Strategy Guide ($55)http://www.sbicouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=115

www.bwpurpose.org