The Green School: Exploring the (Im)possibilities March 2012

1. The Green School: Exploring the (Im)possibilities March 2012

2. Presenters • Keith Timko • Brian Keenan Agenda • Poll: What is a Green School? • Types of green elements and costs • Stories and lessons learned • Steps and Resources • Whether it is green construction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, or more efficient operations, there is a balance that needs to be struck between what is financially and logistically possible for green schools and what is readily achievable.  This session offers participants a chance to share their stories and to discuss what kinds of steps schools can easily take to be greener and where the gaps exist between aspirations and reality.

3. About Us Build with Purpose is a nonprofit real estate development organization specializing in charter facilities such as charter schools. Since our inception in 2003 we have developed 18 charter schools with total development costs exceeding $110 million serving 5,500 children.

4. An Integrated Approach • Charter Schools- Working to take the burden of facility development off the hands of charter schools so they can focus on education. • Garden State Schools Initiative- Increasing access to healthy foods by establishing healthy living practices, finding sustainable resources, and providing healthy meal options in schools. • Energy Efficiency- Bringing a variety of nonprofits energy efficiency and renewable energy options. • Tech for School- Helping schools stabilize technology costs though creating virtual desktop interface systems which enables a single PC to be shared by multiple users.

5. What is a green school? http://www.greenschools.net/

6. But what makes a school green? Curriculum Renewable Energy Community outreach Healthy lunches Gardens Energy Efficiency Green Cleaning Products Recycling Program Conservation Recycled materials

7. Notable Examples The Willow School, Gladstone, NJ

8. Notable Examples Learning Gate Community School, Lutz, FL

9. Notable Examples Unity Charter School, Morristown, NJ

10. The Impossibilities • Limited funds and additional costs • Can’t do it all or even a fraction of what we would like • Cost effectiveness of measures • Government programs don’t work well for charter schools

11. The Possibilities • “Start where you are. Use what you’ve got. Do what you can.” • --Arthur Ashe • Small steps are still worthwhile. • Be realistic and practical

12. The Possibilities • Rehab of existing space is inherently “green building” • Electricity through a third-party electric supplier (ACES Program) • Grants for motion detectors and more efficient lighting (Direct Install) • Partners for a school garden (City Green) • Other school lunch providers (Revolution Foods) • Community health initiatives (Alliance for Healthier Generation) • Renewable Energy (Build with Purpose)

13. Construction/Renovations • Rehab of existing space is inherently “green building” • Often new systems are part of the scope of work. • Look for most cost-effective measures first • Don’t get hung up on LEED certification “Elementary school students in classrooms with the most daylight showed a 21% improvement in learning rates compared to students in classrooms with the least daylight.”

14. Electricity Savings • ACES (the Alliance for Competitive Energy Services) is an electric and natural gas aggregation program. • Savings of approximately 15% on annual utility bills. • Carol Friedman, ACES Coordinator at 732/296-0770 or Carol.Friedman@ACES-NJ.com.

15. Energy Efficiency • Direct Install program— • http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/programs/direct-install • Walk-through energy audit • Grant dollars towards energy efficiency upgrades—70% of the cost

16. Greater Brunswick Charter School: New Brunswick, NJ Energy Efficiency Electricity Use: Gas Use: 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2 CO2: 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2 25 tons of CO2

17. School Gardens • Found good partners like City Green---http://www.citygreenonline.org/ • Are achievable even with very, very little outdoor space • Assistance with curriculum connections

18. School Lunch Providers • Schools have looked into switching lunch providers • Social enterprises like Revolution Foods are entering the space in NJ • Assistance is available from other schools and Build with Purpose to look at financial implications of switching lunch providers.

19. Renewable Energy • Still waiting to see with Power Purchase Agreements for solar • Roof space and roof conditions are challenging • High cost-of-entry • www.bwpurpose.org

20. Healthy Communities • What is going on in your municipality? Your county? • Broader initiatives like the Alliance for a Healthier Generation http://www.healthiergeneration.org • Partnerships with food pantries like NJ Food Bank backpack program • http://www.njfoodbank.org/programs/kids-division/backpack-program

21. Build with Purpose Portfolio Newark Educators’ Community Charter School • Newark, NJ • Completion Date: August 2009 • Size: 28,000 sq. ft. • Students Served: 450, K-8 • Architect: Newwork LLC • Contractor: Artco Contracting and Development • Total Interior Development Costs: $1 Million • Financing/Lender: Victoria Foundation

22. Build with Purpose Portfolio Jersey City Community Charter School • Jersey City, NJ • Completion Date: November 2008 • Size: 24,000 sq. ft. • Students Served: 600, K-8 • Architect: Jamel Kizel • Contractor: La Rocca • Total Development Costs: $7.7 Million • Financing/Lender: The Reinvestment Fund

23. Build with Purpose Portfolio Teaneck Community Charter School • Teaneck, NJ • Completion Date: August 2009 • Size: 36,000 sq. ft. • Students Served: 306, K-8 • Architect: Gertler & Wente Architects • Contractor: La Rocca • Total Development Costs: $11 Million • Financing/Lender: Hamlin Capital and New Jersey Community Capital-Tax Exempt Bonds

24. Useful Links and Resources U.S. EPA - ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districts http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12 U.S. Dept of Energy - EnergySmart Schools http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/ Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) http://www.chps.net/ U.S. Green Buildings Council – Green School Buildings http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx

25. Useful Links and Resources Alliance to Save Energy – Green Schools Program http://ase.org/section/program/greenschl/ National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities - Green Schools Program http://www.ncef.org/green-schools/index.cfm#resource-lists Sustainable Buildings Industry Council - High-Performance School Buildings Program http://www.sbicouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=98

26. Useful Links and Resources U.S. EPA - ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districts http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12 U.S. Dept of Energy - EnergySmart Schools http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/ Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) http://www.chps.net/ U.S. Green Buildings Council – Green School Buildings http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx

27. Useful Links and Resources NREL – National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/31545.pdf ASHRAE - Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1604 SCIC - High-Performance School Buildings Resource & Strategy Guide ($55) http://www.sbicouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=115

28. Thank You! www.bwpurpose.org