Green Schools In Utah
Are you working with a green school in Utah, as a teacher, student or parent?
Schools all over the country are turning green, including Utah schools.
Schools are also being built green across the country, Utah included.
There is a difference between a school being built green and a school that goes
green, but either way, it's a good thing.
The U.S. Green Building Council has a rating system for schools, it's a part of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center in South Jordan, Utah received a LEED silver award. This means it is a green school and was built to satisfy some strict standards.
Many cities and school districts are getting together like this joint venture in Jordan. Daybreak Elementary is a school by day and a Community Center the rest of the time. This is an extremely good use of all the resources that go into building a building of the caliper. The Community Center is used for activities like fitness classes, weight lifting, jogging and many other activities. Even with all this extra use the school uses less energy to run than the other schools in the district.
The LEED program looks at many different aspects a building. This school uses ground-source heating and cooling as well as low-flow water fixtures and outside water containment. Natural lighting is optimized in green schools, making them healthier environments and reducing energy costs. The project waste is looked at also and Daybreak was able to recycle over fifty percent of theirs during the construction phase.
Another common trait with green schools are the additions of bike racks and changing rooms. Walking, jogging and bike riding are encouraged forms of transportation for students and parents alike. The school curriculum is also taken into consideration. The buildings become learning tools and teaching energy conservation and sustainability are encouraged.
Green schools act as shining examples of what all schools could strive to become. So many green things can be implemented at existing schools there is no reason to not make every school green. All schools should have a green club where many of the best ideas for change come from. Green clubs have bought and installed solar panels, set up compost bins and planted organic gardens, gotten entire communities involved in many different types of recycle projects and so much more. Once you get these kids pointed in the right direction they just take off and go.
What are you doing to green the schools in Utah? By sharing your experience we could encourage others to join in and help.
Tell us about your green school.
A green school, club or activity you are proud of.
What Other Visitors Have Said
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No Green Schools for Utah It may be a little longer before we see to many green schools in Utah. The Utah lawmakers put it on the table to have all new school construction LEED ...
