Green Schools In New Mexico
New Mexico is one of the greenest states in America so it is not surprising
to find green schools and green initiatives almost everywhere you look.
Are you involved in a green school in New Mexico? We would love to learn
what you are doing and how it is helping your local environment. By taking
the time to talk about green schools we are motivating others to get in the game
and help out.
The Rio Rancho School District, in New Mexico, is a progressive thinking organization working hard to give our children the best education possible. They have one of the few public Montessori Schools in the nation located in the Sandia Vista Elementary School. The RRPS is also an active participant in the annual Energy Awareness Week. They have partnered with the City of Rio Rancho, the Village of Corrales, the Chamber of Commerce and the Albuquerque Public Schools to make this happen. The intent is to make us all more energy conscious by asking the question "Are you ready to use energy wisely".
Another sign of a progressive district is the building of a green school. Cielo Azul Elementary School in Rio Rancho is an LEED certified school. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is part of the U.S. Green Building Council and works with developers, engineers and school districts to build environmentally friendly schools.
Achieving a LEED silver rating is not an easy task. There are many factors to an overall score ranging from the overall school design to the actual classroom curriculum. Energy efficiency is a must as well as plenty of natural light.
Here are a few of the items on the Cielo Azul LEED list. The outdoor green space is nearly five times the building footprint and site runoff water is captured in the three large drainage basins. The overall site design eliminates water consumption by eighty three percent.
Energy conservation plays a big role in the rating and this school will use about a third less than a standard building of it's size. Another area closely monitored is the use of green building materials and the disposal of unused material. You know an incredible amount of planning goes into a construction site when seventy five percent of the waste is recycled.
Green schools are truly amazing structures and it is nice to see so many being constructed. They provide healthy environments for our children and they are also outstanding teaching tools. These buildings become part of the curriculum. These schools can also be used as models for older schools wanting to go green with existing structures. All schools can be green, in one way or another. What are your experiences with green schools in New Mexico?
Tell us about your green school.
A green school, club or activity you are proud of.
Top of Green Schools In New Mexico
