School has certainly changed since I was young.

Whereas most schools are little more than brick and concrete boxes dropped unceremoniously in the middle of suburban sprawl, Lucy School is a renovated 19th century barn located on a 17-acre farm outside of Middletown, MD. The building, nestled in the rolling slopes of Middletown valley, surrounded by pastures and farmland, features early learning spaces inspired by the Milan School of Design and the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia. But while the aesthetics are inspired by the old world, behind the walls of this quiet and unassuming school are some cutting edge green building techniques and technologies.

Before you even encounter any of the green technologies in the walls of the classrooms you’ll encounter the high wood walls of Lucy School. Most of the wood was obtained from a warehouse that had been demolished, and the remainder is FCS (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

The floors are mainly cork and bamboo, woods recognized as being highly renewable resources.  The concrete in the foundation and the pavement contains about 50% fly ash, which is captured and reused byproduct of coal burning power plants.  The manufacturing processes that produce concrete produce CO2 and so this reduces the carbon footprint in an often unconsidered area of construction.
More than 80% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill through reuse and recycling.  Wood, wiring and pieces of metal are being used in classroom art projects.  Drywall was ground up, mixed with manure and spread over a local farm.  A length of pipe was even used to build musical instruments!

In terms of water usage, Lucy School incorporates sensor controlled sinks, dual flush toilets and waterless urinals. Rain water is filtered throughout the water table through eight rain gardens, as well as being collected in a cistern and used to flush the building’s toilets. The water that can’t be saved is simply reused. Gray water is collected from the sinks, water fountains and the washer and is used to water plants.

The building is studded with large glass windows, allowing the building to be filled with sunlight all day long. Dr. Brown, Director of Lucy School, feels that “daylight is a wonderful natural stimulant for the brain, helping to keep it alert and focused, thus enhancing learning.” Additional sunlight is piped in to the classrooms and meeting spaces through a series of “solatubes.” Solatubes are small lenses affixed to the roof which focus sunlight (while filtering out infrared and ultraviolet light) down a series of pipes lined with a reflective material to fill the classrooms with natural sunlight. Artificial light is provided, when required, exclusively by LED light bulbs.

This attention to detail even extends to the very air you breath inside Lucy School. According to an estimate issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, “one-half of our nation’s 115,000 schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Students, teachers and staff are at great risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants.” Lucy School passes even the most stringent air quality tests through use of a system that monitors for unhealthy conditions and can dynamically adjust air quality. Whenever carbon dioxide levels exceed acceptable levels, sensors activate fans that introduce fresh air from the outside.

“Flushing a toilet, washing hands or sorting waste in recycling bins are daily experiences that reinforce green principles,” says Dr. Brown. “Most importantly, this building compliments beautifully our environmental and outdoor education curriculum that promotes a love of nature and environmental stewardship.” Because of the limited number of experienced green building professionals in the area, Lucy School sponsored three intensive training sessions on green building methods for senior members of its design and construction teams, and most of their subcontractors to assure adherence to strict environmental standards. Lucy School is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. A building can only receive LEED certification if it meets the highest green building and performance measures.

Lucy School relies on an array of sixty grid-tied solar panels manufactured by a local company (BP Solar), which generate sufficient power to reduce the building’s electricity use by 15-20%.

Four (Water Furnace brand)  geothermal heating/cooling systems lessen the school’s reliance on the electrical grid even more.

It is said that life imitates art.

If so, it seems only natural that such an artfully designed green building house Lucy School’s unique brand of childhood education, focusing on participation in the community, environmental conservation and artistic expression.

From the foundation to the solatubes on the roof, ever aspect of Lucy School has been carefully considered for its impact on the surrounding landscape, the learning environment within, and the natural environment outside its walls.

GreenBEES, an acronym for Green Building for Economic and Environmental Sustainability, is the brainchild of Bob Hanson and Randy Williams.

This is not their first straw bale insulated house, but it is none the less a fascinating case study in sustainable green building.  Distance traveled to the site, types of materials, and the energy used in creating the materials are just a few of the variables considered in this project.

The expectation is that, in the end, the house will use around $20 of electric power per month. The basic structure is a timber frame with straw bale in-fill.  This is enclosed in an exterior coat of lime plaster.  The roof is designed for rain water harvesting, which is only the beginning of the water conservation features.  Radiant floor heating, solar hot water, composting toilets and a Nutrient Recycle System (developed by Bob and John Hanson during an earlier project and sold commercially for the past 20 years) guarantee that this house uses an absolute minimum of water.

The design and construction take several things into consideration.  All the appliances will be AT LEAST Energy-Star compliant, and in some cases even more efficient.  Deciduous trees will be planted in strategic locations to provide shade in the summer and shielding from cold winds during the winter.

The story of  “The Three Little Pigs” may have unfairly colored our perceptions of houses made of straw.  When asked whether it’s really possible to live in a straw house GreenBEES has only one thing to say, “…they are very comfortable.  I should know; I live in one!”

Check out the GreenBEES on the web at www.GreenBEES.net.

Damien D. Edwards, a licensed home inspector and energy auditor with Noble House Residential Services, discusses tips for making your home more energy efficient, and why a home energy audit is a good investment.

Damien covers Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs, programmable thermostats, the importance of regular HVAC system tune-ups, and identifying and plugging air leaks.

Even the benefits of landscaping for shade during the summer and windbreaking during the winter can help reduce heating costs by 10 to 20%.

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Jim Pierobon, Chief Marketing Officer for Standard Solar Inc., presents a compelling case for offsetting rising energy costs by investing in solar energy for the home.

Starting with the inspirational origins of Standard Solar and its founder Neville Williams, Jim examines solar technology from a primarily financial standpoint.

How much do you stand to save?  The average home can offset 30-45% of its electric load with a 4kW photovoltaic system.

Government incentives for adoption of solar energy is also addressed.

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Sheila Gregg, a LEED Accredited Professional and President of Sol Aqua Terra Holistic Architecture, thoroughly explores the planning, implementation and advocacy of sustainable community development.

She covers the multiple green building rating systems, and examines local LEED and Energy Star certified buildings.

Also addressed are realistic barriers to sustainable building, in addition to numerous opportunities that the movement towards sustainability offers.

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Lisa Orr,  Low Carbon Advocate and Volunteer Frederick Executive Director, covers five important Conversations on Conservation:  Why personal action is so important, providing resources to make taking action easier, demonstrating the impact on individual households, ways to make personal action more likely and how to gain input through volunteer programs.

Lisa takes apart common excuses for not taking personal action to combat carbon emissions and global warming while providing a helpful reading list to continue your green energy education!

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Corrine Chearis is a LEED Accredited Professional. She is also the President of ATTUNE Development. In this presentation Ms. Chearis discusses making the transition to sustainable communities with economic, environmental and social success. Her presentation gives an overview of the the “LEED Green Building Rating System”. Green Buildings worldwide are certified with a voluntary, consensus-based rating system.

USGBC has four levels of LEED:

1. Platinum :52–69 points
2. Gold: 39–51 points
3. Silver: 33–38 points
4. Certified: 26–32 points

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