Environmental Green Design
Kids today are suffering from afflictions not as commonly seen in previous decades. There are overwhelming statistics regarding kids suffering from asthma and even more distressing statistics regarding their general fitness; 15% of children ages 6-11 years old are overweight. Considering kids spend the majority of their days in school, the change must start with these educational institutions. Green schools not only improve the health of kids, but reduce the schools’ negative impact on the environment.
What are green schools?
Green schools are constructed as healthy environments promotive for learning that also reduce their ecological footprint. Green schools conserve energy and water and implement programs which teach children to respect, appreciate and utilize the natural world around them. These are holistic educational institutions which are not only conducive to preserving the environment, but to the productiveness of students and faculty.
Why go green?
More schools are making the choice to go green, and this is due in large part to the overwhelming beneficial aspects of high-performance buildings. Green schools save on average $100,000 per year, use 33% less energy, save 32% more water and reduce waste by 74%. These statistics prove that not only are green schools environmentally sound, but fiscally beneficial as well. In fact, if all schools were to go green, more than $20 billion dollars could be saved over the next 15 years.
Though the positive implications regarding the environment and cost-effectiveness of green schools are aspects which are advantageous, the greatest impact high-performance educational institutions have is on students’ and faculty’s health. Green schools reduce asthma symptoms by using green cleaners, eliminating pesticides and phasing out stale air. Aside from reducing asthma symptoms, green schools reduce cancer risks by eliminating the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) with the use of green cleaners.
Green schools also work to stop the trend of childhood obesity. Green schools eradicate soda and candy while offering nutritious, locally grown food options – most of which is organic. These nutritious food choices teach kids from a young age how to eat healthy, thereby reducing the percentage of overweight youths. Some green schools also teach the students how to grow their own fresh, organic produce, teaching skills they can utilize for the rest of their lives.
How do schools go green?
First, schools are built by LEED certification standards, six criteria which deem a building sustainable. This can involve the use of skylights to provide natural light, open windows for fresh air and better ventilation, and roofs which reflect heat. Motion sensors can be installed to automatically turn the lights on and off, greatly reducing electricity costs. Green schools also have rooms designed to have better acoustics, reducing strain on teachers’ voices. All green schools have instituted recycling programs, even going so far as reusing dishes and silverware.
Green schools also have courses and programs which engage students with the natural world. With the inundation of video games, computer programs and other technologies, fewer children are experiencing one of the most rewarding relationships of their lives, that of which is with the environment. By caring for their own ecosystems at school, students learn how vitally important the environment is and what they can do to conserve it.
What is the significance of green schools?
Green schools are more beneficial to the students’ and faculty’s health, meaning absenteeism and turn over are greatly reduced. In fact, there is a 12% reduction in teacher absences in green schools. When the environment is promotive of students’ well-being, it is also more conducive to learning. Students in green schools have higher test scores, attributed to the increased natural light and fresh air from open windows. In holistic environments, students are more apt to learn and retain information, a huge advantage that green schools possess.
The relationship that is developed between students and the environment is also invaluable. Not only are students taught how to be more sustainable, but they develop a profound reverence and gratitude for the natural world. Once this respect and appreciation for the environment is instilled at a young age, these beliefs become inherent, and their relationship with the natural world is one they can nurture over the course of their lifetime.
The overall significance of green schools lies in their ability to provide a healthy learning environment that promotes all facets of well-being. The ecological footprint on the Earth can be lessened, as well as the strain on the small budgets of schools. The benefits abound, providing plenty of evidence supporting the cause to have every school go green.
Healthy Schools
After the No Child Left Behind Act and limited federal, state and local funding, schools lack the ability to provide students with an appropriate atmosphere that is conducive to learning. The cost-effectiveness is a necessary consideration; the student’s ability to learn and retain information has higher value.
School furniture is inherently designed with a “one size fits all” mentality, when in reality, that is simply not the case. For shorter students and faculty, inappropriately sized furniture can cause loss of circulation. Conversely, for taller people, the miniature furniture can cause neck and back problems which can continue to affect them later in life. Not only is school furniture uncomfortable, but it promotes poor posture which adversely affects the musculoskeletal system.
Aside from furniture, artificial lighting and climate conditions can affect the students’ ability to learn. A study at a North Carolina school found that natural daylight enhanced students’ test scores significantly. It is all these atmospheric conditions which can positively or negatively affect students’ and faculty’s performance, motivation and productivity.
Think Spaces can design a work space that is conducive to a productive, healthy school environment for faculty and staff. By implementing design aspects that better accommodate the school’s inhabitants, positive repercussions abound.
Contact Think Spaces today to see how our professionals can augment your school environment to become a productive and healthy work space that inspires creativity.
