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What Is a High Performance School?
Creating a high performance school is not difficult;
however, as with any sustainable building, it requires an integrated "whole"
building approach. Although you do not have to be
Coalition for High Performance Schools (CHPS): The Coalition for High Performance Schools provides information and resources for schools which can be utilized in creating a school environment which promotes learning while saving energy, resources and money. By developing a program which creates awareness of energy and resource issues, school districts can create a better learning environment for our children, while at the same time saving money and resources. High performance schools achieve these goals by using a whole building, integrated design strategy that incorporates the best of today's ideas and technologies. From the beginning of the design process, each of the building elements (windows, walls, building materials, air-conditioning, landscaping, etc.) is considered part of an integrated system of interacting components. Choices in one area often affect other building systems; integrated design leverages these interactions to maximize the overall building performance. C.L.I. Group, LLC President, Al Tibbs recently completed the 25 week training in High Performance School Design. CHPS Resources
EPA Tools for Schools The EPA's "Tools for Schools" program shows schools how to
carry out a
Tools for Schools can save schools time and money so that attention can be directed to educating children. C.L.I. Group, LLC can help your achieve these goals by performing initial IAQ assessment of the building. We will provide support in evaluating your school and implementing the TFS program. The state of many of our areas schools is poor and in need of a program that can create a better learning environment without creating a financial burden on our already strained school systems. C.L.I. Group can aid in developing a program which can address indoor air quality and energy issues using a whole building approach. The results? An energy efficient, environmentally friendly learning environment for students and lower operating costs for school districts. Jarod's Law Ohio's new Jarod's Law is extensive. Below are some of the basic requirements for exterior and interior items. C.L.I. Group, LLC has the capabilities to provide many of the required services. Please call our office if you have any questions regarding your school districts responsibilities. Exterior Inspections The grounds must have no trip hazards and be clean and free of litter. There must be no standing water near the building that could contribute to intrusion into the building. There can be no evidence on the building of water damage. Gutters, downspouts, etc. must be secure and show no signs of obstruction. Walls and windows must show no signs of cracking, blistering or peeling paint or mold. No paint, roofing material, or other sealants or coatings can be applied during occupied periods without exposure control methods. Once each year the school must have a qualified person inspect all roofs and all rooftop HVAC units. This inspection report must be made available to the sanitarian at the time of the schools inspection (a roof inspection report form is attached). Schools must provide the sanitarian with a drawing of the roof indicating the location of HVAC units, exhaust vents, roof drains, etc. This drawing should be as close to scale as possible. School playgrounds and fall zones will be inspected. Solid waste disposal areas will be inspected. Schools must have their outdoor bleachers inspected by a qualified person and inspection certificates must be made available to the sanitarian at the time of their inspection. Athletic areas must be free of standing water. Indoor inspections All entry points into the building must have a fifteen-foot mat. If the area cannot accommodate a fifteen-foot mat, it must be as large as possible. The interior of the building must show no signs of moisture, water damage or mold. Walls shall have paint and plaster intact with no signs of cracks or damage. Portable tables and other furniture must be stored inaccessible to students or secured to the wall or floor. Walls and ceiling shall be intact with no water damage, stains, mold, or chipped or peeling paint. All plumbing fixtures must be in good repair. Drinking fountains must crest a minimum of one inch above the mouth guard. Stand alone laser pointers shall not be permitted on school grounds or in school buildings. Schools must have their indoor bleachers inspected (once each year) by a qualified person and inspection certificates must be made available to the sanitarian at the time of their inspection. Hand-washing posters must be visible from all sinks. Custodial closets must be inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. All custodial sinks must be equipped with backflow prevention. All doors to mechanical rooms must be locked. There must be no evidence of roof or plumbing leaks or other sources of water on any surface in the attic, mezzanine, basement, or crawl spaces. All areas of student health care must have a toilet and sink adjacent to the area and not used by the general student population. All areas of student health care must have a cot and a mattress with a waterproof cover. All areas of student health care must have a current first aid reference document. All areas of student health care must have a sharps container and a thermometer. Schools shall have and implement a flushing protocol where lead pipes or lead lined storage wells may be in use.
Our Schools Are In Need of Cost Effective Retrofitting
The numbers in the table above from government study show the need for cost effective retrofitting in our schools. What the numbers above do not show is how the inadequacies listed affect other integral components of the buildings. It is the ensuing damage which may be the most expensive and yet may also be the most preventable. These ensuing issues include excessive energy costs, indoor air quality problems, further degradation of the buildings, a poor learning environment and potential liability and lost productivity. Our technicians can perform a preliminary walk-through of your facility to determine what, if any areas could benefit from retrofitting efforts. If our preliminary assessment reveals areas of concern, we can schedule the needed additional evaluations to determine the most costs effective retrofits for the facility. We can also perform any indoor air quality and asbestos evaluations which may be required. Green Building & LEED Certification The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Green Building Rating Systemฎ is a voluntary,
LEED Certification can help in assuring that your building is friendly to both the environment and the budget. The LEED rating system is split up into several categories which cover all building types. Some of the rating systems are currently available and some others are currently under development. C.L.I. Group, LLC has LEED Accredited Professionals on staff to provide guidance and assistance to school districts interested in implementing sustainable building programs. LEED was created to:
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources. Energy Codes Energy codes play an important role in the
design and development of school programs. Whether the
In addition to assuring proper
construction on new buildings, building codes cover all aspects of building
renovations. Some other issues in addition to building codes which Getting Started Ready to consider a program for your school district which can create a safer, healthier and more energy efficient environment for students and staff? We would be happy to visit you facility to discuss some of the available programs which can get you started. Call us at 440-946-7191 to arrange a visit to your facility. We cover schools in any Ohio school district.
Ohio Incentives for Renewable Energy For Kids & Students
Resources & Publications
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ฉCopyright 2008 C.L.I. Group, LLC All Rights Reserved
an
expert in high performance building design, it is critical to choose
architects and engineers who are. You must also identify and prioritize your
goals early in the process and communicate them clearly to your design team.
practical plan
of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no
cost using straightforward activities and school maintenance staff.. The
voluntary guidance in Indoor Air Quality
consensus-based
national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the
building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its
evolution. 
building
under consideration is yet to be built or is an existing school being
retrofitted,
the building codes will play an important role in selecting materials and
rating performance.