Procuring greener schools

Rating tools

In Australia the rating tool for all schools will be Green Star – Education currently under development by the Green Building Council of Australia. The rating tool will follow a similar structure to that which is currently transforming the commercial property industry – Green Star ratings are now being required by government and major tenants for their office buildings. The certified ratings are 4 star – best practice, 5 star – Australian excellence and 6 star – world leader.

Green Star awards points in the following categories:

Management – credits address the adoption of sustainable development principles from project conception through design, construction, commissioning, tuning and operation.

Indoor Environment Quality – credits target environmental impact along with occupant wellbeing and performance by addressing the HVAC system, lighting, occupant comfort and pollutants.

Energy – credits target reduction of greenhouse emissions from building operation by addressing energy demand reduction, use efficiency, and generation from alternative sources.

Transport – credits reward the reduction of demand for individual cars by both discouraging car commuting and encouraging use of alternative transportation.

Water – credits address reduction of potable water through efficient design of building services, water reuse and substitution with other water sources (specifically rainwater)

Materials – credits targets resource consumption through material selection, reuse initiatives and efficient management practices.

Land Use & Ecology – credits address a project's impact on its immediate ecosystem, by discouraging degradation and encouraging restoration of flora and fauna.

Emissions – credits address point source pollution from buildings & building services to the atmosphere, watercourse, and local ecosystems.

Innovation - Green Star seeks to reward marketplace innovation that fosters the industry's transition to sustainable building.

Other overseas rating tools which could be used to assist in the environmental benchmarking of school design and/or operation include:

BREEAM Schools (UK)

Launched in January 2005, BREEAM Schools assesses new construction and refurbishment school projects in schools in line with DfES requirements. Assessment criteria are based on environmental performance levels rather than specific design solutions, giving the design team and client maximum flexibility to select appropriate systems and innovative solutions whilst ensuring high environmental performance standards.

LEED for Schools – Draft (US)

LEED for Schools is a market-specific application that recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools. The draft rating system is based on LEED for New Construction, and addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and more. The application guide, when complete, will be supported by a full suite of supporting tools tailored to schools: a reference guide, workshop, and LEED Online with credit templates.

CHPS Best Practice Manuals & Scorecards (US)

The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS, pronounced "chips") aims to increase the energy efficiency of schools in California by marketing information, services, and incentive programs directly to school districts and designers. To help school districts and the architectural community, CHPS has five Best Practices Manuals: Volume I – Planning; Volume II – Design; Volume III – Criteria; Volume IV – Maintenance & Operations (M&O); and Volume V – Commissioning.

Eco-Schools

Eco-Schools is a program for environmental management and certification, and sustainable development education, for schools. Its holistic, participatory approach and combination of learning and action make it an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path to improving the environments of schools and their local communities, and of influencing the lives of young people, school staff, families, local authorities, NGOs, etc.