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Green BuildingGreen schools are healthier for students and teachers, better for the environment, and less costly to operate and maintain.  Green building provides a framework of practices and procedures which when followed lead to building better buildings and operating and maintaining existing buildings more efficiently. Thus, even if you are not planning to build a new building, your school can benefit from learning about green building. To help guide you to the information most relevant to your school, please click on the appropriate link below: I am planning to build a new building at my school I am not planning to build a new building at this time Greening Your Existing School BuildingGreen building practices for the operation and maintenance of school buildings can save money and provide a healthier environment for teachers and students. If you have pursued any of the paths toward waste reduction, energy and water efficiency, and green purchasing outlined in the other Greening Your School sections, you are already on the path to having a green building. The U.S. Green Building Council provides a LEED for Schools rating system which outlines practices that you may already have implemented. Certifying a school building as a green building or your campus as a green campus can help you publicize the sustainability achievements you have made. To learn more and consider whether green building certification is right for your school, see the links below and the information in the Green Certification section. Building New Green SchoolsIf you are considering building a new school building or buildings, you will receive the greatest benefit from considering green building design and construction practices as early in the process as possible – even before you are considering hiring a design team. Certainly, green building goals should be discussed during your first meeting with the design team. To maximize benefit, think about green building and how it might be incorporated into your project from the beginning when it is less costly to make design choices and changes. Studies have shown that classrooms designed to provide natural daylighting result in lower teacher/student absence rates, higher test scores, and greater student information retention. Schools designed using green building practices also reduce the energy and material consumption that contributes to global climate change. State funding for school construction and renovation makes incorporating green building into your project more affordable. To learn more and consider whether green building certification is right for your school, see the links below and the information in the Green Certification section. ResourcesU.S. Green Building Council – Green Schools California Energy Commission – High Performance Schools California Energy Commission – Bright Schools Program City of San José – Environmental Services Department – Green Building Program City of San José Go Green Schools Program SchoolFacilities.com
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