Among the other important improvements, the Long Range Facilities Plan makes sure that Duluth Public School’s facilities will be more energy efficient and environmentally-friendly. We will employ the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for new school construction and existing school renovations. The benefits of using this “green” approach include:
- Healthier places to teach and learn. Air quality can be improved throughout the facility by opting for paint and carpet that don’t emit toxic gasses and using ceiling tiles, wall systems and furniture made with non-toxic materials.
- Improved learning spaces. Making lighting more task-oriented and improving acoustics can enhance student concentration and performance.
- Ongoing operational budget savings. Green buildings deliver lower energy and water bills by employing simple technology like low-flow plumbing and sensors for lighting and capturing the benefit of natural resources through solar panels, light shelves and green roofs. Reductions in utility costs, as well as in eliminating 500,000 square feet of no longer needed space, will save $833,753 each year.
For the Duluth Public Schools, the Facilities Plan calls for seeking the LEED Silver Certification. In order to reach this goal, priorities will be placed on the following:
- Optimizing indoor environmental quality by providing increased ventilation and day lighting and enhancing acoustical performance and controllability of systems.
- Reducing waste by selecting materials that optimize recycled content and local/regional materials and diverting a minimum of 75% of construction wastes from landfills.
- Reducing water use and soil erosion and maintaining storm water run off through careful site design.
As in other commercial buildings, the net cost of building a LEED school is comparable to building conventional schools. Existing technology and good design practices allow for Duluth Public Schools to meet the majority of the standards required to achieve a Silver Certification at little or no additional cost.