Green Schools In Maine
Are you active in a green school in Maine, as a teacher, parent or student?
If so we would love to hear about your experience. Hopefully we can
motivate more schools in Maine to do the same. It is a very strong
movement in the U.S. that all new schools should be built green. They
create a healthier environment for our children to learn and they serve as ideal
vehicles for the teaching of sustainable living and energy conservation.
In Falmouth Maine sits an excellent example of a green school. Brewster Hall at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf is a building worth taking note of. The U.S. Building Council has. Their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program awarded the new building a silver certificate.
The entire project includes classrooms, a lobby, a special needs classroom and a community education area. This is a school for deaf students from pre-k through eight grade.
One of the key factors the LEED program looks at for green school certification is the use of natural light. The goal is to maximize day light to reduce both lighting and cooling costs and to create a more inviting atmosphere. Some of the ways this is done is with the use of light shelves, bounced light and a light sensor control system.
Some of the other factors used in the ratings are energy efficiency, water conservation and the use of outdoor green areas. Another consideration is all about recycling. They look at how much of the project waste was recycled and how much of the construction was done with green materials.
Looking at green schools can produce many ideas that can be taken back to your school. Many things can be done at an existing building to promote sustainability. Recycling, adding solar, using outdoor water storage are just a few of the projects student, parents and teachers have worked on to green their schools.
If you are involved in a green school project take a minute and tell us about it. The more help we can get creating green schools in Maine, the better.
Tell us about your green school.
A green school, club or activity you are proud of.
