By:George Mitchell Sr.
Here are five cost effective ways to improve our school buildings:
1. Photoluminescent Items: School districts pay thousands of dollars every single year on operation and maintenance of school emergency exit signage. Significant ways to reduce these costs include the use of photoluminescent merchandise. These kinds of signs are operated exclusively by the ambient light from standard fluorescent lighting. There are no electrical elements. Additionally, you won’t find any toxic, self-luminous agents. These eco-friendly evacuation signs are 100% recyclable and cut CO2 emissions by nearly 500,000 pounds annually, per 100 signs installed.
2. Light Reflective and Eco-Friendly Roofs: Ecological building design can certainly begin right at the top of the building with the use of non-standard roofing materials. Easy high-reflection roofing has greater durability over that of regular roofing, and it also enables a bounce-off effect of direct sunlight, minimizinging cooling bills. Environmentally Friendly Roofs, or full roof gardens, cut the prices of air conditioning further, boost roofing longevity by 30-50 years, and deliver beneficial “green space” for students to utilize and appreciate.
3. Fresh Air Lay Out: Prior generations thought nothing of opening a classroom window. In the hurry to build low-cost schools that comply with a minimum of building codes, the plain operable window has just about disappeared. Ventilation in standard schools is maintained through the reuse of existing in-building air supplies, dispersing cold and flu viruses through the population. Eco-friendly technology gives back the open window, pulls clean air through roof venting, and utilizes heat energy from stale, exhausted air to cut energy costs. Wellness financial savings to the community can reach millions.
4.Solar Energy Source: Active solar panels clearly reduce emissions and energy costs. Solar power actually permits schools to earn money by supplying excess power back into the public grid. Passive solar power, using large windows and skylights, is an additional way to help you save. This particular technology collects the natural warmth of sunlight to lessen the need for powered fixtures and mechanical heating.
5. Collecting Rainwater: A single average-sized school will save 2 million gallons of water and 1,000 pounds in nitrogen runoff when utilizing rainwater collection. Tank-stored rainwater works extremely well to power flush toilets, irrigate school grounds and, if appropriately filtered, supply tap water for the entire building. Annually, it could save tens of thousands of dollars.
Despite popular belief, sustainable building design in schools is not costly. The total cost increase over standard design is less than 2%. Decreased energy use on it’s own can swiftly counter these costs. School buildings that are sustainably built benefit the public, the children, and the Earth in many ways. Start your district on the road to sustainable schools, today!
About Author:
While conducting the research for this article, I learned a lot about photo luminescent exit signs and where to find OSHA approved fire exit signs at GloBriteSystem.com.