The Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council Chapter has selected Wilmore Elementary School, Jessamine County as Kentucky’s first LEED Existing Buildings pilot project at a K-12 school.
The Jessamine County Board of Education voted on Mon., Aug. 27 to proceed with getting LEED EB certification for the school, according to a news release.
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the nation’s most recognized Green building rating system.)
The project involves a documented business case identifying the benefits of LEED EB to the school district, teachers, parents and students and the costs associated with achieving the LEED EB certification, according to the release.
Certification fees for Wilmore are being provided by U.S. Green Building Council’s national organization. Expected time frame for project completion and certification is one year, or by December, 2013.
From the release:
Chris Tyler and Bill Sharp, Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council Chapter Board Members, are leading this project on behalf of the Chapter. Partners include the Kentucky School Board Association, Kentucky School Plant Managers Association, Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence and Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
“As the first K-12 school (Kentucky) to pursue LEED EB certification, this will be a great opportunity for our chapter to help Wilmore Elementary, the Jessamine County School District and the tax payers to save money through energy and water savings while providing a healthy learning environment for the students, teachers and staff, and minimizing environmental impact. We will also be able to better understand the return on investment and real benefits from LEED EB certification to share with school districts and citizens throughout our Commonwealth.”
“Kentucky has been an unsung leader in green schools, including the nation’s first Net Zero Energy school located in Warren County,” said Cliff Ashburner, chairman of the Kentucky USGBC Chapter, in the release. “We sought approval of a LEED EB pilot project for four school districts in last year’s General Assembly, but were unsuccessful. In spite of that setback, we’re pressing ahead and are looking to keep Kentucky at the forefront of the green schools movement.”
The chapter will be working at Wilmore Elementary to reduce energy and water use, improve indoor air quality and create building management plans that can be used by other school systems to create better, more environmentally friendly places for children to learn, according to the release.
About the LEED EB rating: The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED EB addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues, recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades.
About the Kentucky Chapter USGBC: The vision of the volunteer based Kentucky chapter of U.S. Green Building Council is to improve the health and welfare of all Kentucky citizens through a sustainable and responsible built environment. The mission is educate and promote the design, construction and operation of buildings and the built environment in Kentucky that are environmentally responsible places to live, work and learn.
About USGBC: Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s leading coalition for the advancement of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Established in 1993, the Council offers various products and services to include the LEED Green Building Rating System, an annual International Green Building Conference and Exposition, membership summits, information exchange, education,and policy advocacy. For more information on U.S. Green Building Council and LEED programs, visit the website here.
Jessamine County school selected for Kentucky’s first K-12 LEED existing school building pilot project
The Jessamine County Board of Education voted on Mon., Aug. 27 to proceed with getting LEED EB certification for the school, according to a news release.
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the nation’s most recognized Green building rating system.)
Certification fees for Wilmore are being provided by U.S. Green Building Council’s national organization. Expected time frame for project completion and certification is one year, or by December, 2013.
From the release:
Chris Tyler and Bill Sharp, Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council Chapter Board Members, are leading this project on behalf of the Chapter. Partners include the Kentucky School Board Association, Kentucky School Plant Managers Association, Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence and Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
“As the first K-12 school (Kentucky) to pursue LEED EB certification, this will be a great opportunity for our chapter to help Wilmore Elementary, the Jessamine County School District and the tax payers to save money through energy and water savings while providing a healthy learning environment for the students, teachers and staff, and minimizing environmental impact. We will also be able to better understand the return on investment and real benefits from LEED EB certification to share with school districts and citizens throughout our Commonwealth.”
“Kentucky has been an unsung leader in green schools, including the nation’s first Net Zero Energy school located in Warren County,” said Cliff Ashburner, chairman of the Kentucky USGBC Chapter, in the release. “We sought approval of a LEED EB pilot project for four school districts in last year’s General Assembly, but were unsuccessful. In spite of that setback, we’re pressing ahead and are looking to keep Kentucky at the forefront of the green schools movement.”
The chapter will be working at Wilmore Elementary to reduce energy and water use, improve indoor air quality and create building management plans that can be used by other school systems to create better, more environmentally friendly places for children to learn, according to the release.
Insider Louisville recently had a post about Kentucky’s first LEED EB-rated office buildings, Ormsby I, Ormsby II and Ormsby III in the Forest Green Corporate Office Park .
About the LEED EB rating: The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED EB addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues, recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades.
About the Kentucky Chapter USGBC: The vision of the volunteer based Kentucky chapter of U.S. Green Building Council is to improve the health and welfare of all Kentucky citizens through a sustainable and responsible built environment. The mission is educate and promote the design, construction and operation of buildings and the built environment in Kentucky that are environmentally responsible places to live, work and learn.
About USGBC: Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s leading coalition for the advancement of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Established in 1993, the Council offers various products and services to include the LEED Green Building Rating System, an annual International Green Building Conference and Exposition, membership summits, information exchange, education,and policy advocacy. For more information on U.S. Green Building Council and LEED programs, visit the website here.