Green Renovation of Cincinnati Schools
Cincinnati School has a long-term, billion-dollar construction project in effect that will help renovate and rebuild many of its older buildings. The elementary school of a Cincinnati school, Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, has recently been featured in District Administration. This national magazine focuses on K-12 education issues. The article in the August issue discusses the growing concern and interest in green building and building that respects the environment. The article states that while the initial cost may be higher, the long-term benefits of green building are quite clear. The construction of Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School is not only a win-win for green building strategies, but also teaches students important lessons about the environment and responsibility.
Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School will be the first LEED school in Cincinnati Schools upon completion. The LEED Green Building Rating System was designed by the US Green Building Council, which has helped Cincinnati Schools write their new building plans and codes. The article refers to the work of Ginny Frazier as one of the main influences on the Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project. A private citizen who lives in the area, Frazier is the leader of a local group that advocates for green building. She went to Cincinnati School officials and administrators with proposals for how her neighborhood school could be rebuilt using green materials and eco-friendly tactics. Some of the ideas he proposed included, according to the article, “geothermal heating, whereby the new building uses the earth’s temperature for cooling and heating, using natural building materials, harmful-free cleaning products and art supplies, as well as natural water filtration systems”. “
The article discusses the five key areas in which the Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project uses innovative techniques or old-fashioned common sense to improve the design of the building. The Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project will improve lighting in schools in several ways. The lights will feature sensors that will automatically turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. The Cincinnati City Council is currently using a similar system that has greatly reduced energy costs. Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School will also have photovoltaic panels, which convert solar energy into electricity. Energy savings with heating and cooling systems is also a concern. All new and renovated Cincinnati Schools will have central air systems. The article states that “air-conditioned classrooms prevent outdoor pollution and ultimately help asthmatic children breathe easier,” he says. And the moisture from hot, humid days can also cause ceiling pads to buckle or gym floors to sag.
Another area the article talks about is indoor air pollution. The Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project is using less carpet in the design to help reduce indoor pollutants. Plans to reduce the amount of water use in Cincinnati Schools would also rely on sensors that detect motion around sinks and toilets. The article comments on the concerns that the Cincinnati Schools Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project has in this area. The main concern is to use faucets that have an automatic closing system or a push button system.
