Featured Sustainable Project

Verrado HIgh School

School buildings often become iconic by the very nature of their presence and role within our communities. In the case of Verrado High School, a LEED Silver registered school and model for other facilities seeking green-building standards, the goal was not only to educate its students academically, but to demonstrate, by example, its endeavor to successfully launch qualified citizens into our communities.

By embracing green building, Agua Fria Union High School District created opportunities to educate students, district faculty and the general public about the potential impact of sustainability on our society.

Local building materials such as bricks, concrete and grout were used to reduce fuel consumption generated by transporting materials to the site. The locally procured clay brick consumed much less energy to manufacture than would concrete block for a similar masonry building. Structural steel used on the project was 99 percent recycled and manufactured and fabricated locally. Over fifty percent of all waste materials generated on site were diverted from landfills by separating materials, such as metals, inert material, organic materials, plastic, and general trash for recycling.

To reduce off-gassing of harmful chemicals, the project utilized recyclable carpet with low volatile organic compound (VOC) backing and fibers, furniture built from recycled formaldehyde-free materials, as well as floor finishes, adhesives and paints that do not emit VOCs. Employing natural and low chemical use products in the design, construction and maintenance of the building is a testimony of the schools commitment to the environment.

Techniques that reduce utility consumption were incorporated, including low water flow faucets, waterless urinals, occupancy sensing electric lighting, window shading, energy efficient heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and extensive use of natural lighting. Estimated resource savings include 29 percent in energy or about $42,000 per year, and 700,000 gallons a year in water usage. Verrado, now it its third year of operation, has proven to be the lowest energy consumption school in the District, using about two-thirds of the electrical energy of similar sized conventional high school campuses.

The design of the roof over the high volume Central Mall with filtering daylight is analogous of the protective nature of the school. Daylight into all educational spaces physically nourishes the building and the students, stimulating the senses for the quest of knowledge and growth. The sun-dial at the school’s entry, the recycling program, organic landscaping, environmental club and environmental awareness signage throughout the school are all operational elements of the school that connect this core environmental value with the educational curriculum for students. The building itself is a tool that allows students to evangelize the message of sustainability to their families, and then integrate awareness into the community through their daily lifestyle.

The 220,000 square foot LEED Silver registered Verrado High School is only the fifth high school in the country to receive the designation and the second in Arizona, and both just happen to be Agua Fria schools!

Implementing a Green Cleaning Program

An important component of sustainable building design is maintaining the quality of the indoor space. Paying careful attention to the choice of cleaning products (e.g. using non-toxic cleaning chemicals) can provide healthier spaces with benefits such as reduced user sick days and increased user productivity.

Some guidelines for starting a green cleaning program in your facility:
• Use green cleaning products: A few years ago, buying reliable and affordable green cleaning products was difficult, but standards have evolved and are now used to identify and evaluate products with reduced health and environmental impacts. In fact, the latest version of the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners focuses on making products safer for vulnerable populations, including children in schools and childcare facilities, and patients in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.
• Use green equipment and supplies: Using vacuums with high efficiency filters can reduce exposures to dust and chemicals while minimizing energy and water use. Using environmentally preferable paper and plastic products and reducing consumption (such as replacing multifold paper towels with large rolls), can also offset the overall cost.
• Share the responsibility: Educate custodial staff, administrators, teachers, students, union representatives, vendors and visitors about what they can do to promote a healthy indoor environment.

Additional Resources:

• healthyschoolscampaign.org: Resources including industry standards, product cost comparisons, facilities management training info, implementation procedures, forms and checklists, studies, reports and websites, a glossary of terms, a list of hazardous cleaning products used in schools and potential substitutes, along with links to state and federal agencies.
• www.ISSA.com: The leading trade association for the cleaning industry. Provides a free, 90-minute webinar about the Cleaning Industry Management Standard, the first consensus-based management framework of its kind.

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