I’m starting to lose track of days. If it weren’t for this blog, I wouldn’t know what day it was. I’ll give the mini-lecture, so this is not by any means comprehensive, but today’s highlights include: Al Sena again, on the Rio Rancho school district in New Mexico. They have 3 LEED Silver schools under construction at this moment. They love prototype schools (I’m hearing a lot about that here) and believe it saves 12% in construction costs. Interestingly, I sat next to a facilities guy from Maryland, while on the bus to tour a school, who has done 9 prototype schools and he said that the only thing it saves is architecture fees.
Rio Rancho has an agressive “GreenClean” program as well as an “Energy Plan” that includes teaching environmental awareness throughout the 12 grade levels.
Poquoson, Virgina (near Chesapeake Bay) built a 3-5 grade level school that is over the top green. CEFPI award winner, amongst others. $194 per sq. ft. 48 LEED credits; ground source heat pump had a 5 year payback.
CCI Green Schools Program (Bill Clinton) provides financing for green schools.
Second session today was the “eco-charrette” by a group (more later) for a site on Cal Poly. I had no idea going in, really. Sadly the CSU system did not sanction this charrette and they presented their findings on the same day that CSU awarded the job to a completely separate (non-involved) architectural firm. In other words, this was a renegade, unapproved design charrette that had no real effect on the outcome, unless the new design team choses to use this information. Anyway, it was useless.
Then we went to the Field Museum during a mid-day break. Very cool natural history museum. (see photo) Sue the Dinosaur
Then it wa back to the Conference for the tour of a Chicago Green School. Hard to say what the value of this school was. It was brick and concrete block. Very hard interiors. (see photo)Albany Park School
Riding the bus is a great way to make friends. More on this in the mini-lecture.
Later dudes and dudettes.
What’s up with this thing?
By: Amy on April 13, 2010
at 11:24 pm