In light of tight capital and operating budgets, more districts are aggressively pursuing ways to reduce energy consumption in their new schools. Because heating and cooling is a primary driver of energy use, many project teams are focusing on ways to imp
Sedona administrators were fortunate to have bond money to invest in their solar equipment and program. Not all school districts can afford to do the same. For those districts, there is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Due to its offsite, factory-controlled process where skilled trades apply efficient, assembly-line techniques, the modular industry is able to build and deliver healthy, safe, durable, budget-friendly, green classrooms within a short time frame that meet
It is time for districts to consider a more energy efficient data center model. New data center technologies, including targeted cooling systems and upgraded uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as well as those that ease server loads, effectively reduce p
Getting students involved in monitoring energy conservation.
When a $73-million bond passed in November 2007, savvy Sedona administrators decided to invest the money in solar energy in order to reduce energy consumption. This would allow them to pay their utility bills without having to dip into other line item cos
While some institutions are using the economy as an excuse to shy away from sustainable design, others choose to concentrate on the potential savings. These savings can range from reduced utility costs by improving operational efficiencies and performance
By making the transition to green computing, schools can reduce their energy consumption, save on their power bill, extend their budget and help to save the environment.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a variety of options for modernizing aging buildings and driving down energy costs. Some schools are finding success with approaches that employ traditional technology retrofits, while others are
For the last several weeks, the focus of work and concern in Washington, D. C., has been the passage of the fiscal year 2011 federal budget and the threat of a Federal government shutdown. With their backs against the wall, congressional leadership and Pr
Despite the rapid escalation of the number of electronic appliances and gadgets in use, the amount of energy used by these plugged-in appliances is often overlooked in energy efficiency plans. While the energy use of each individual appliance may be relat
Experience teaches that an emergency response plan can save lives if disaster comes. But, emergency response planning takes time and resources that can be difficult to marshal today, especially when you know that nothing bad is likely to happen tomorrow.
What may have been impossible five to 10 years ago is very possible today due to the advancements in sustainable technologies and the continuing decrease in costs for these systems. With the coupling of energy reduction principles such as geothermal, alon
Public education in the United States is under attack, and not just from one side or another; it's from politicians of all stripes who see education as a pot of money that they do not (yet) control.
What is the classroom of the future? It's flexible in furniture and format. It's loaded with technology that assists the learning process. It's an extension of the outdoors. It's a community space. It's designed for independent or
The community school movement certainly favors conventional community school notions, but it goes far beyond convention. This movement envisions schools as hubs for a long list of community services designed not only to improve the education offered by th
In school parlance, demographic studies essentially mean projecting the number of students likely to be enrolled in the district and individual schools next year and over a period of five to 10 years. The simplest and most effective way to do that is call
Something hard for a baby boomer to use is easy for the young digital natives that are in school trying to learn how to think and reason their way out of a project. What works for a person or a small group of people in an intimate setting on the park benc
The key to risk management is heightened awareness. If schools take the time to educate faculty about updates in technology, such as Ultrasurf, potential problems can be minimized. The time is now, as the worst can be avoided by informing teachers before
It is not a focus on standardization that will make our students succeed. It is cultivating their individuality, their creativity and their ability to look at things differently. Just knowing what everybody else knows will not cut it in today's world