Schools are an investment for the future is where we prepare the future generations of leaders who will pave the path of innovation and future technology. They are the heart of our communities and it is very important that the communities leaders ensure that these places offer healthy environments for their students and teachers as well as saving energy, water and operational costs which will be reflected in savings to the Tax payers.
Twenty percent of Americans go to school every day where they spend about 6 hours a day, from here the need for a safer place offering more favorable condition than those offered by conventional construction.By promoting green schools, we are making a major positive impact on students health, which results in a better grade, better attention to their teachers, higher attendance, big savings in operational costs and the positive impact to the environment.
Green schools are characterized by a strong emphasis on directional light of day instead of artificial light in a high indoor air quality in an excellent acoustic control in their classrooms, and a large thermal control to maintain a pleasant environment for students and teachers. They have great savings in water consumption and 30 - 50% less energy use compare with the conventional schools.These schools offer a great opportunity to learn and to involve students directly in their conservation and recycling programs creating an awareness of environmental protection and energy conservation by teaching them to understand among other things, the benefit of native vegetation and the role and benefits of solar panels.
I conclude that it is of great importance to promote and require from our communities leaders to implement green schools providing a healthier environment for our children, which will result in an excellent learning potential productivity and health welfare of its students and teachers.
These green schools, not necessarily cost more to build than conventional ones.Since they offer a significant savings in their operating systems, use less water and energy savings that will be reflect directly to all the residents in the community.
A green school can save $ 100,000.00 per year in direct costs. If from now, all schools in America were converted to green, this would represent a substantial energy savings of $ 20 billion over the next 10 years
Green Schools will help to stop the clock on climate change because it will be a direct source of information for their students about this major problem and will give them the tools to face the challenges and seek solutions to improve the environment in our planet.
By Maria M Hernandez
H & H DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
