Dec. '08/Jan. '09
LEED
C O N T E N T S
Chapter News: US EPA Benefits Far Reaching
Executive Director's Corner: The Economics of Green
The Business of Green: Busted Boiler Brings Energy Savings Vision to Company
Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix: Long Live The West
LEED: Notes From A Shifted Landscape
LEED: Bethke School LEED Certified
Regional Roundup: Denver Metro Steering Committee's Efforts Pay Off
VISION
Promote responsibility for Colorado's environmental legacy.
MISSION
Advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy advocacy, and information and resource sharing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Hootman, President
RNL Design
Dana Kose, Vice Chair
Universal Development Company
Megan Christensen, Secretary
Bovis Lend Lease
Jim Bradburn, Treasurer
RMH Group
Mike Lowell, Advocacy Chair
US GSA
Bobby Molinary, Membership Chair Hyatt Select
Josh Radoff, Director At Large
YRG Sustainability
Daniele Loffreda, Communications Chair
Plateau Enviro Associates
Conor Merrigan, EGB Chair
C2 Sustainable Development Consultants
Deb Kleinman
Executive Director
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at dgloffreda@msn.com
Bethke Elementary Recognized as First in the Nation to Achieve LEED for Schools Gold Certification
Press Release
By Debra Hooker and Jody Margheim, Poudre School District
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November, 2008
For more information, contact:
Debra Hooker, PSD Communications (970) 490-3549
Jody Margheim, PSD Communications (970) 490-3543Poudre School District announced today that Bethke Elementary is the first school in the nation to be certified through the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Schools Rating System. Bethke was awarded a Gold level certification, which is the second highest rating in the LEED program. LEED is
the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. LEED for Schools recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools and addresses the specific needs of school spaces. “This recognition speaks to the district’s commitment to providing high performance, energy efficient, quality learning environments. The PSD community entrusted us to make wise decisions in school construction when they approved the 2000 bond. Bethke is an excellent example of the efforts that resulted in many outstanding additions to our school district.” said Jerry Wilson, Superintendent of Schools.
Bethke, which opened its doors in August 2008, was designed by RB+B Architects as a prototype using PSD’s nationally recognized Sustainable Design Guidelines. Zach, Bacon, and Rice Elementary Schools were built using the same prototype as Bethke. Colorado State University’s Institute for the Built Environment was the LEED consultant on the project.
"Poudre School District is demonstrating to the local and national community that we can significantly improve the quality of our schools through thoughtful design. PSD's high performance schools are benefiting teachers, students, and taxpayers by creating healthy and energy efficient places for learning. It doesn't get much better than that." said Josie Plaut,
Director of Projects at
CSU’s Institute for the Built Environment.
LEED certification of Bethke Elementary includes a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. PSD has contracted with Xcel Energy to provide 100% wind power to the site, and the building has been designed to accept future photovoltaic panels. Other features include a state-of-the-art evaporative cooling system, super insulated building envelope, high-efficiency boilers, operable windows, and building spaces which are 90 percent day lit.
In addition, many of the sustainable systems that are typically hidden, such as structure and mechanical systems, fire sprinkler riser and piping, data management equipment, and building monitoring equipment, are instead exposed inside the school to indicate their function and provide dozens of educational opportunities. The building is also divided into “passive” and “active” sides in order to provide a quiet, distraction-free learning environment. This is accomplished by placing classrooms on one side of the building (passive) while spaces like the gym, cafeteria, music, and media center are on the other (active).