Information about Green Building

Building Energy Conference

Green Buildings Open House

Mid-Atlantic Sustainability Conference

MA Collaborative Building Awards

Northeast Green Building Awards

Green Schools Resources

Green Building Links

Recommended Books

Building Green Schools Resource List

High Performance Green Schools

Alliance to Save Energy
Green Schools Project
1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Phone:  202-857-0666
Email: info@ase.org
Website: www.ase.org

The Green Schools program is specifically geared toward school districts looking to make their existing buildings more efficient. The website offers helpful guidelines for starting a program. Also available through the website are free materials that include key learning concepts for green schools, an annotated bibliography of green schools instructional resources, curriculum materials, and information about ways to save energy in schools. The Alliance to Save Energy produces a green schools newsletter and organizes the "Earth Apple Awards" – prizes for schools that use energy efficiently.

Collaborative for High Performance Schools
Toll Free Phone: 877-642-CHPS
Email: chps@eley.com

Although the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) was developed as a standard for California’s public schools, this website contains excellent information. Its Best Practices Manual is a good standard reference for high performance school design and has information directed to school districts and guidelines for designers. It contains information on each building system and provides a variety of detailed design recommendations centered on resource efficiency, daylighting, and indoor air quality.  The CHPS program is being adapted by other states, like Massachusetts.

Energy Star for Schools
Environmental Protection Agency: Energy Star Program
Toll Free Phone: Energy Star Hotline: 888-STAR-YES

The Energy Star for Schools program assists facilities decision-makers in improving their school’s energy performance and labeling their buildings as Energy Star certified. Most of the information on the website applies to facilities in general, rather than to schools specifically. Resources available through the website include information about financing Energy Star buildings, building design guidance, service and product providers, and energy and financial management resources.

EnergySmart Schools
Department of Energy
Email: doe.erec@nciinc.com

EnergySmart Schools is a campaign of the Department of Energy and its Rebuild America program. EnergySmart Schools offers schools training workshops, publications, recognition, direct technical assistance, financing options, and a host of other resources toward making school facilities more energy efficient. Resources available on the website include step-by-step guidance for making schools more energy efficient, classroom materials and activities, and information about school buses.

Green Schools Energy Project: Step-by-Step Manual
Youth for Environmental Sanity

Designed for high school students, this 30-page manual is an excellent way of engaging students in a process of research about energy use within their own schools.  In addition to outlining the environmental effects of non-renewable electricity, this manual offers step-by-step guides for implementing energy saving projects in schools. The authors base the manual on their own experiences as students working to make their schools greener.

LEED  (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
US Green Building Council
1015 18th Street, NW, Suite 805   Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 82-USGBC (828-7422)
Email LEED inquiries: leedinfo@usgbc.org
The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a priority program of the US Green Building Council. It is a voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven building rating system based on existing proven technology. It evaluates environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a "green building".   This website has a list of LEED Accredited Professionals sorted by state, city, and last name.  In addition, there is information and resources on the rating system, LEED certified projects, and an introductory PowerPoint that describes the benefits of green building and a primer on LEED.  You can download this PowerPoint for no expense.

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
NCEF's High Performance School Buildings.
National Institute of Building Sciences
1090 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: Toll free -  888-552-0624 or 202-289-7800

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, this website provides extensive resource lists that cover planning, design, financing, construction, and the operation and maintenance of school facilities. The lists are annotated bibliographies and include links to full text publications and related Web sites, descriptions of books, studies, reports and journal articles. Specific topics pertaining to green building include daylighting, high performance school buildings, energy savings, indoor air quality, and much more.  Look for the resource list on their website.

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
50 Miles Street, Suite 3
Greenfield, MA 01301-3212
Phone: 413-774-6051 x12
Email: Mary Pelletier

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is the nation's leading regional membership organization focused on promoting the understanding, development, and adoption of energy conservation and non-polluting, renewable energy technologies. We work to bring clean electricity, green transportation, and healthy, efficient buildings into everyday use in order to improve the environment, protect human health, and nurture local economies. For more than a quarter century, NESEA has facilitated and enhanced a network of professionals, practitioners, and other citizens in pursuit of responsible energy use. Our programs and activities focus on the northeastern United States (from Washington, DC to Maine).

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC)
1112 16th St., NW Suite 240
Washington, DC 20036
Email: SBIC@SBICouncil

SBIC has developed a High Performance School Buildings campaign to generate interest among school building owners and designers in building high performance, sustainable school facilities. The campaign includes workshops, a High Performance School Buildings Resource and Strategy Guide, and policy analysis. The guide is an excellent resource for school decision-makers who control a school building process. The SBIC website also offers useful introductory information on high performance schools.

US Green Building Council
1015 18th Street, NW, Suite 805
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-82-USGBC (828-7422)
Email: General USGBC inquiries: info@usgbc.org

The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. LEED is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Renewable Energy and Schools

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.  It includes a state-by-state database of ‘Schools Going Solar’ programs.

Million Solar Roofs Solar Schools Success Stories
Department of Energy

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative has funded several solar on schools programs. This website includes success stories from schools that have participated in the programs.  The two-page briefs provide project background information, solar system descriptions, and financing options.

Schools Going Solar
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
P.O. Box 1156
Latham, New York 12110-1156
Phone: (518) 458-6059
Email: info@irecusa.org

The Schools Going Solar program aims to build a network of people who can share experiences using solar energy in schools. The website offers a useful means to stay informed of solar school programs and opportunities, and provides an electronic newsletter and a database of schools using solar.

Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)
Schools Going Solar
1800 M Street, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036-5802
Phone: (202) 857-08987
Email: SolarElectricPower@ttcorp.com

SEPA’s Schools Going Solar offers helpful information for schools considering the integration of solar in their facilities. The website provides an introduction to solar power on schools, the ABCs of solar, practical information, case studies, information about financing options, and links to existing solar schools.

Solar Energy Goes to School

Written by Richard Eidlin of Solar Works, this article examines the use of solar photovoltaics on schools and provides a list of ingredients to initiating a successful solar project at a school.

SolarQuest™
Solar on Schools Program Management
EcoSage, Inc.
P O Box 274
Chelsea, VT 05038
Phone: 1.802.685.3450
E-mail: webmaster@solarschools.com

By participating in SolarQuest™, students from around the world will take the lead in a renewed effort to power the 21st Century with clean energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It all starts by enrolling in the SolarQuest™ curriculum and working toward the installation of a photovoltaic system in your school. Here you will be able to read about what others are doing and tell about your Solar School project too.

SolarAccess.com

SolarAccess.com was started in 1998 by a group of Renewable Energy professionals who wanted to develop a network of renewable energy focused services.  This website includes daily news covering renewable energy worldwide, along with links to the renewable energy marketplace. Specific Topics: Daylighting, Indoor Air Quality, Life-Cycle Costing

Daylighting and Productivity Study
Heschong Mahone Group

This frequently cited report, produced for Pacific Gas and Electric, studied the correlation between daylight availability and human productivity. One part of the study looked at elementary student test scores in three school districts, and found that significant improvements in test scores was strongly correlated with daylight in classrooms. You can download this study.

Student Performance of Daylit Schools
Innovative Design, Inc.
850 West Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 919-832-6303
Email: innovativedesign@mindspring.com

Innovative Design, an architectural firm that has built dozens of green schools, conducted this analysis. The study investigates the relationships between elementary and middle school student performance and natural daylighting using three daylit schools in North Carolina.  

Cost Effective Daylighting Design Strategies
Coldham Architects
155 Pine Street.
Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: 413-549-3616

The study involved construction of both electronic and physical models. The electronic models were used to study sunbeam penetration, and the baffling necessary to block the direct sun. The physical models were used to determine the quality of daylighting and the amount achievable under various ambient conditions, particularly overcast conditions, which constitute 50% of the daylight hours of the year in central New England.

EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit
Phone: 800-438-4318

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit (Kit) shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff.  Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools is co-sponsored by the National PTA, National Education Association, Council for American Private Education, Association of School Business Officials, American Federation of Teachers, and the American Lung Association.

Is Your School Suffering from Sick Building Syndrome?

Published by the National PTA, this article provides information regarding sick building syndrome and how to identify it in your school. The AASA Schoolhouse in the Red project reported that one building in every eight, or 13,200 schools across the nation, is inadequate for learning.

Life-Cycle Costing

Search for ‘Life-Cycle Costing’ in Whole Building Design Guide website for a description of life cycle costing and an explanation of how to conduct a life-cycle analysis.

School Planning and Management Magazine

By searching the archives for topics pertaining to green schools, one can uncover many useful articles pertaining to indoor air quality, the costs of green school construction, and other topics including the March 2001 article ‘Green Schools: A Design Fad or a Trend Worth Embracing?’ written by Joel K. Sims, AIA of Reese Lower Patrick and Scott Architects in Lancaster, Pa.

State Resources:

Massachusetts:

American Institute of Architects Massachusetts Chapter and Boston Society of Architects
Boston Society of Architects / AIA
52 Broad Street
Boston MA 02109-4301
Phone: 617-951-1433 x221 or 800-662-1235 (within MA)
Email: bsa@architects.org

The BSA-AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) is a forum for architects and related professions to discuss, educate and learn about sustainable building design, construction and operation.  Along with other information about the BSA-AIA, this website has information on upcoming COTE meeting agendas or notes from meetings past.

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Renewable Energy Trust Green Schools Program
75 North Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: 508-870-0312
Email: mtc@mtpc.org

MTC’s Renewable Energy Trust offers a number of grants through its Green Schools Program. The program has $13.5 million available and will fund in-depth feasibility studies, educational workshops, and pilot green school buildings.

Massachusetts Department of Education
17 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-5106
Phone: 781-338-3000

The Massachusetts Department of Education offers five kinds of grants: entitlement, allocation, continuation, other non-competitive, and competitive. The website offers a useful procedural manual for obtaining and using grant funding from the department. The manual is available online.

Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
70 Franklin St., 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02110-1313
Phone: 617-727-4732
Email: DOER.Energy@state.ma.us

Massachusetts Healthy Schools Network
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health
Phone: 617-524-6686
Email: masscosh@shore.net

Massachusetts Healthy Schools
Sponsored by the Massachusetts Public Health Association

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
5 Militia Drive
Lexington, MA 02421
Phone: 781-860-9177
Email: info@neep.org


New Jersey:

Global Learning, Inc.
1018 Stuyvesant Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
Phone: 908-964-1114
Email: globallearning@worldnet.att.net

The New Jersey Sustainable Schools Network website includes contact addresses and descriptions for the following: 1) schools where the facilities have become a total learning environment; 2) a list of curriculum materials which emphasize sustainable development and the environment; 3) examples of extra-curricular activities and community service; 4) updates on professional development opportunities for educators, communities and government agencies; 5) a list of consultants able to assist in greening new construction, renovation and retrofitting facilities; 6) institutional purchasing practices; 7) sustainable transportation options including alternative fuel options for buses.  A description of The School Campaign to Reduce Green House Gas Emissions is another feature.  In addition this website includes ‘Teaching the Test’ a guide to teacher’s resources for New Jersey’s Social Studies Standard 6.6.  

New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability
c/o Ramapo College of New Jersey
505 Ramapo Valley Rd., Rm. G425B
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 201-684-7031
Email: mail@njheps.org

The Sustainable Campus Initiative is a comprehensive, Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) to change curriculum, research, campus facility operations and community outreach that focuses initially on reducing campus impact on global climate change. The SCI website describes programs for six interrelated strategies in education, energy efficiency, green design, green procurement, student activism, and media campaigns.  This website is primarily geared for colleges and universities.

Pennsylvania:

American Institute of Architects: Philadelphia Chapter
117 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
Phone: 215-569-3186

Founded in 1909, AIA Pennsylvania is the statewide component of the American Institute of Architects. Although independently incorporated, AIA Pennsylvania is officially linked to the National AIA and to the eight local AIA chapters in Pennsylvania. AIA-PA Committee on the Environment (COTE):  Co-chairs: Jonathan White and Scott Kelly. The mission of AIA PA COTE is to advocate sustainable built environments and communities and to impact public policy by taking a leadership role in advancing, disseminating and promoting environmental knowledge and values within the profession, the building industry and the public at large.

Conservation Consultants, Inc.
64 South 14th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1548
Phone: 412-431-4449
Email: info@ccicenter.org

The building is modeled on sustainable design principles, focusing on non-toxicity, energy efficiency, recycling and cost effectiveness.  The CCI Center houses classrooms, demonstration spaces, a "green" retail store, and a library. Here students and homeowners learn the basics of home resource conservation, from lighting to water, from heating to composting. The library for green building and design serves both homeowners and professionals.  
  

The Cusano Environmental Education Center at
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

The main entrance to the Refuge at 86th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard in Southwest Philadelphia provides access to the Cusano Environmental Education Center, foot trails,
fishing, and wildlife observation platform.
Visitor Contact Station: 215-365-3118
Email: fw5rw_jhtnwr@fws.gov

The Cusano Environmental Education Center is a model of sustainable design strategies, and is open to the public. The building has received 3 major awards for its design.  Sustainable design strategies include: energy efficient lighting, heat, and cooling; recycled materials-like flooring made from used tires, beams left over from logging operations, and decking made from recycled plastic bottles.  Native landscaping and rainwater harvesting reduces the need for irrigation.  The Cusano Environmental Education Center demonstrates the importance of the natural world to the human quality of life within an urban setting.

Green Building Alliance
Rebecca Flora
64 South 14th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: 412-431-0709
E-mail: info@gbapgh.org

Green Building Alliance (GBA) is a non-profit organization that works to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of the Pittsburgh region through the integration of green building practices into regional development projects.  Green Building Alliance’s Green Team Builders offers services to support up-front project planning and ongoing project evaluation, two components of the green building process that are essential to a project's success.

Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania
114 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-292-2636
E-mail: info@gbacpa.org

The Green Building Association provides a variety of resources including: a quarterly newsletter, seminars and workshops, educational forums, group presentations, networking opportunities, an internet discussion group, and site visits to green projects. This web site provides access to a resources page that provides past issues of GBACPA newsletters and other related reference materials.

Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs
Sandra Burton - PMSR Project Manager at:  
1924 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-988-0929 x242
Email: sandrab@ecasavesenergy.org

The Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs Community Partnership is a collaborative of local organizations and small businesses committed to helping the five county region of Southeastern Pennsylvania contribute over 500 new solar energy installations by 2010 to the President's Million Solar Roof Initiative. Community partners include local energy providers, utilities, solar energy system designers, installers, government representatives, and community based energy experts. The Philadelphia MSR Community Partnership serves as the central point of contact, information clearinghouse, and facilitator for the Million Solar Roof program in the region.

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities

A service sponsored by the US Department of Education that provides information on planning, designing, funding, and maintaining schools. The NCEF website links to thousands of publications on school construction and facility design.

Pennsylvania Governor’s Green Government Council

The Governor’s Green Government Council, (GGGC) was created in l998 to help the state government adopt environmentally friendly operation policies and practices. The council works cooperatively across agency jurisdictions, putting sustainable practices into state government’s planning, policymaking, and regulatory operations and striving for continuous improvement in environmental performance. This website includes the GGGC’s Green Plan and High Performance Green Building Guidelines.

Pennsylvania First Green Building

Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regional headquarters building in Harrisburg, PA was designed with the intention of becoming Pennsylvania’s first "model" green technology building, one which will serve as an educational tool and as a beacon for others concerned with environmental sustainability, green building, and the application of high-performance materials and systems.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Cambria Office

This eight-page publication describes the sustainable design features included in this building.

Pennsylvania Department of Education[
Email: pde@psupen.psu.edu

The PA Department of Education presents, in one location, information on its state and federal grants available to the Commonwealth. In a user-friendly format, you will find all different types of grants from across the agency by program area. In addition, many program descriptions include hot-links to other important related areas of the PDE web page.  

PRC Environmental Living Center
Philadelphia Office
3606 Providence Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: 610-353-1555

Recognized as a state and national leader in waste reduction and recycling, PRC assists with school waste reduction and recycling, including food service recycling, building material recycling, paint recycling, and educational programs. The educational programs offered by PRC are an entertaining and educational way to teach kids math, science, communication and computer skills all with an environmentally friendly message that covers many of the academic standards for the state of Pennsylvania.  

Sustainable Development Fund
Email: sdf@trfund.com

The mission of the Sustainable Development Fund is threefold.  To promote the use of renewable energy and advanced clean energy technologies among residential, commercial, institutional and industrial customers in the PECO Energy service territory. To promote energy conservation and energy efficiency among residential, commercial, institutional and industrial customers in the PECO Energy service territory. To promote the start-up, attraction, expansion and retention of sustainable energy businesses that benefit customers in the PECO Energy service territory.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
1112 16th St., NW Suite 240
Washington, DC 20036
Email: [mailto:info@sbicouncil.org]info@sbicouncil.org

Previously the Passive Solar Industries Council, SBIC not only supports passive solar design, but also building-integrated photovoltaics, energy efficiency, daylighting, healthy indoor environments, and other aspects of sustainable design and construction.