Leading by Example
Ohio’s Green School Initiatives Serve as Model for Midwest
Ohio schools are about to get much greener. In September 2007, the Buckeye State set a significant precedent when the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) adopted the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Schools Rating System as part of its school design standards, mandating that all new K-12 schools constructed with state funds must be LEED-certified Silver.
—Franklin Brown, a planning director at the OSFC.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) established its LEED for Schools Rating System to recognize the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools, addressing issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment. LEED is a widely used benchmark for the design and construction of energy-efficient and environmentally conscious buildings and has four progressive levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The level of certification depends on the number of criteria or points that are met during the design and construction of a building.
The September mandate was made possible, thanks to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s Tobacco Securitization plan, which allocates the $4.1 billion settlement that Ohio received from its lawsuit filed against four tobacco companies. The Tobacco Securitization plan specifies that the money from the settlement must be used over the next three years for green school renovation and construction. Using these funds, at least 250 Ohio school buildings will be registering for LEED Silver Certification within the next two years.
“This is a significant move forward in terms of sustainability, and it puts Ohio on the radar as a champion in the green movement,” says Franklin Brown, a planning director at the OSFC. “In three years, Ohio school buildings will consume 50 percent less energy than they do today. No other state that has made this level of commitment.”
While Midwest states including Pennsylvania and Indiana are also incorporating green elements into school design, Ohio has been the most aggressive. Brown credits this to the OSFC’s growing “green mentality” and the cash infusion from Governor Strickland’s plan.
Sharing in the Cost of Green Construction
On average, green schools cost about 3 percent more to build than traditional schools, but upfront costs are offset by energy savings over the life of the building. Those savings, which will accrue directly to the school districts that participate in the LEED for Schools program, aren’t measured in pennies. The USGBC reports that green schools save an average of $100,000 annually in energy costs, and the savings can be greater, depending on the level of certification.
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“The OSFC is helping with the upfront construction cost, but it isn’t covering the entire bill,” explains Brown. “Individual school districts will be responsible for a portion of the cost.”
The OSFC will determine the size of that portion based on each school system’s financial need; representatives crisscrossed the state to visit and rank more than 600 school systems. Remaining construction costs will be collected through district bond issues.
Over the next three years, the OSFC will contribute a larger portion to schools, so fewer dollars will need to be raised through bond issues. However, after the $4.1 billion is distributed, school districts will be responsible for a greater portion of their construction costs, as the OSFC will have less money to contribute.
New Rating Systems Requires Specialized Knowledge and Expertise
Until recently, all new buildings seeking LEED certification were measured against the USGBC’s LEED New Construction guidelines. But the LEED for Schools Rating System requires specialized knowledge and expertise in green school design. School districts are engaging green building experts, such as design architects, interior designers, lighting and landscape engineers and project managers, to offer insight and keep projects on schedule and on budget.
“The value of LEED-certified professionals becomes more evident when a project is seeking LEED certification,” says Charlie Jahnigen, LEED-AP, associate project manager for SHP Leading Design (SHP). “Those individuals with the proper background and credentials can evaluate which green elements have the greatest impact and the most value on a project, and can help streamline the design and building process.”
Experienced LEED professionals can determine which green design elements will have the most impact on certification and can suggest ways to earn LEED credits without extra cost. They can also identify means of offsetting certain expenses with savings in other areas.
“LEED-accredited professionals can also help manage administration costs associated with achieving certification,” continues Jahnigen. “Knowing how to monitor the points during design and construction is critical, and LEED-accredited professionals can write specifications and manage the necessary documentation for final application to the USGBC.”
Jahnigen should know. A full one-third of the SHP staff is LEED accredited by the USGBC. SHP was also responsible for the design and construction of the Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, the first LEED-registered K-12 school in Ohio.
“The school has the opportunity to lead the way for sustainable schools throughout Ohio,” says Jahnigen. “Many districts in the region have seen what we’ve done with Pleasant Ridge and are interested in incorporating similar design elements into their facilities.”
Green Schools Aren’t Built Overnight
LEED certification takes a coordinated effort and extends well beyond school construction.
“You have to be in it for the long haul,” says Brown. “First you have to assess the needs of the district, then a master plan is created and bond issues are approved. Then it’s onto design and construction. It’s about four years from the start of a project to ribbon-cutting.”
And even then the process isn’t finished.
“After construction is completed, a third party verifies that all systems are operating properly to ensure maximum efficiency,” explains Jahnigen. “Basically, a school is evaluated to ensure all the green components are delivering the results the designers said they would.
“This is another area where an experienced team is a necessity. By collecting data and implementing best practices learned from other green projects, design efforts can be tweaked to be more effective and deliver more efficient and sustainable projects.”
When all is said and done, certification might be granted a year or longer after the building opens its doors.
Recognized for Its Green Achievements
The schedule the OSFC established seems aggressive, but they’re keeping up with it. In addition to Pleasant Ridge Elementary in Cincinnati, there are 12 new Ohio schools in the design process that meet or exceed LEED-Silver criteria.
That’s a good first step, but the OSFC has a long way to go. There are approximately 2,500 school buildings in Ohio, and, according to Brown, the OSFC plans to either renovate or take out of service those schools that don’t meet certain standards. Those that are taken out of service will need to be rebuilt.
Ohio is setting itself apart from other states, with regard to green school design, and praise is coming from high places. The OSFC was recently recognized for its commitment to environmental efforts by former President Bill Clinton at the Greenbuild International Conference in 2007.
“Creating a healthy learning environment while saving energy, resources and money is important, but there is more to it than that,” says Brown. “Imagine the learning potential when the school building itself becomes an interactive teaching tool, educating the next generation of sustainable leaders through hands-on learning.”
That’s worth all the effort.