GREEN SCHOOLHOUSE SERIES                                    

The Green Schoolhouse Series seeks to build healthy, environmentally friendly and energy efficient schoolhouses that will enhance a student’s learning experience. Each project positively impacts the local community and environment through the use of green products, materials and processes.

 

There are four project designs. The Loft schoolhouse for high schools, the Studio schoolhouse for middle schools, the Safari Schoolhouse for elementary schools and Tierra Verde - a multilingual, multicultural K-12 facility.

 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Although each schoolhouse is unique, the following are a few components the schoolhouses share:

• Schoolhouses projects are built each year

• Approximately 6,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. sustainable design

• Used as classroom space, for after-school programs, and by the community on evenings and weekends

• Entirely funded through corporate sponsors, private donors and community partnerships

• Schoolhouses are gifted to qualifying school districts

• 30-day compressed building window to capture the energy of everyone involved

• Volunteerism led by professional contractors, tradesmen, and technicians

GREEN OVERVIEW

There is a substantial amount of research that indicated the benefits of building green facilities. Along with experts in the green community, Brighten A Life works hard to maintain the integrity of the projects by incorporating the following green practices.

 

Goal of achieving LEED Platinum Certification, sustainable architectural designs, installation of solar panels, implement a passive solar design, energy efficient HVAC units, insulation with high R-Value, energy efficient doors and windows,

eco-friendly flooring, zero-to-low VOC paint, high efficient Energy Star® appliances, energy efficient lighting, drought-tolerant landscape design, the use of recycled materials, utilizing local materials, encourage recycling on site and much more...