What makes developing a sustainability plan so difficult is the disparate number of tangible and intangible elements that need to be considered, including energy use, campus mass transit, water use, recycling, indoor air quality, on-site alternative energ
To better understand the current rage for "green" buildings, it is important to refer to fundamental principles of sustainable design. Of these, the most basic ideas can be found in passive solar strategies that incorporate many traditions of in
- By Peter A. Gisolfi
- 04/01/09
When it comes to green initiatives, Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green sticks to a very old-fashioned concept: Officials here emphasize less driving. And they do it by offering a bevy of cutting-edge technology solutions that give professo
- By Julie Sturgeon
- 04/01/09
Imagine a place where rainwater and ecology are part of a child's curriculum, where the amenities around the school are developed upon a framework of design principles that reintegrate students into the environment.
Because data centers are such energy hogs, many building owners assume they can't pursue a LEED-certified green building because their center cancels out the sustainable effects of the rest of the building. But by applying some of the fundamental ten
Total Project Management (TPM) is an exclusive process that provides a single source of responsibility for all planning, architecture, and construction needs. This process increases accountability, eliminates the blame game, streamlines the scope of work,
- By Paul J. Hoffman
- 04/01/09
School district decision-makers face a multitude of challenges, but possibly one of the biggest responsibilities they are charged with is creating schools that offer productive learning environments while being fiscally responsible to tax payers. They wan
With the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, school districts nationwide have an unprecedented opportunity to construct new high-performance schools and modernize existing facilities to significantly decrease energy consumption a
Building Green and educational environments for special-needs students.
With the launch of YouTube EDU (www.youtube.com/edu) in March, Google has made available, for free, more than 200 full courses from 100 universities and colleges. Schools participating in YouTube EDU include MIT, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley.
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 04/01/09
The environmental and financial cost of non-compliance can be high, and surprise inspections from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state regulators routinely turn up multiple violations, even at campuses that consider their compl
- By Daniel Winograd
- 04/01/09
Without changes in the way buildings are designed and constructed, costs will continue to rise. Total world consumption of marketed energy is projected to increase by 50 percent from 2005 to 2030, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As univers
- By David L. Damon
- 04/01/09
While the oil story is an important one, there is another pressing problem that has received little attention and is getting worse in more and more areas of the U.S. every year: chronic water shortages. Shortages are occurring in water-rich areas as well
- By Klaus Reichardt
- 04/01/09
Educators are typically not experts in security and law enforcement and sometimes question which type of approach is best for providing security and/or law enforcement staffing for schools and special events. There are numerous approaches, ranging from un
Schools also need to do their homework on all of the elements of building or renovating green sustainable sites, water and energy efficiency, protection of natural resources, use of recycled and re-used materials, and the protection of indoor envir
Our current economic climate has affected numerous areas in education, including libraries. Districts have less money to go around, but their libraries may find some relief through money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 03/01/09
Sure price matters, but it's not the most important factor when making furniture purchases. Purchasing managers keep a lot of different balls in the air when deciding what to get and from whom. If your school is buying in the future, here are some fa
While change can be challenging, it also brings with it an opportunity for advancement and an air of excitement. With many alternatives for expansion whether it's a new building, addition, renovation, or combination it's best to ex
- By Jennifer Cordes
- 03/01/09
Video analytics enables video surveillance systems to look for and report suspicious activity occurs. Complex mathematical formulas underpin the video analytic software applications that can identify and track objects, offering powerful capabilities to co
- By Michael Fickes
- 03/01/09
I do not know how many Astroturf or similar playing fields are still in existence, but the original enthusiasm has declined, in part because of the hardness of the playing surface. But the problem that Astroturf seemed to solve the overuse and dete
They say a cluttered desk reflects a cluttered mind. We can also say that a cluttered janitorial closet may reflect a custodial crew that is disorganized, lacks efficient training, and is generally unprofessional. Further, a messy closet can cause a lot o