Clarion University will host a Green School Summit, June 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Gemmell Student Complex. The daylong conference sponsored by Green Building Alliance (GBA) is intended for school superintendents, administrators, teachers, school board members, facility managers, students and parents.
The Summit features educational sessions about greening schools and is ideal for administrators, teachers, students, facility managers, and school board members. Among the topics to be addressed are: the importance of high performance, green, healthy schools; envisioning schools as learning laboratories; understanding the economics of building and operating green schools; listening to case studies from Western Pennsylvania and Ohio schools; and learning how to finance green schools through existing policies and programs.
Registration fees are $50 for GBA members for the full conference, $25 for half day; and $60 for non-members, $30 for half day. Registration forms are available at: http://www.gbapgh.org/Files/RegistrationForm.pdf. For additional information contact Green Building Alliance, 333 East Carson St., Suite 331, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219, Phone: (412) 431-0709.
Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald will provide the welcome to the conference at 9 a.m. Clarion University is in the midst of a sustainability building boom. The university’s new Science and Technology building opened on June 1, joining the January opening of Eagle Commons dining building, and Valley View and Campus View residence halls, as sustainable buildings on campus. The Summit will close with tours of these buildings beginning at 3 p.m.
Bob Kobet, AIA, LEED AP, President, Sustainaissance International, and chair, LEED for New Construction v 2.2 Schools Application Guide, will provide the opening keynote address, “Why Green Schools.”
Morning breakout sessions include:
Financing Green Schools – speakers, Carle Dixon, Division of School Facilities, Pennsylvania Department of Education, “LEED Certification and Subsidy Reimbursement in Pennsylvania”; and Dennis Maloskey, PE, CEM, LEED AP, director, Engineering, Governor’s Green Government Council, “Writing and Receiving Grants for Your Green School.”
Existing Schools to Green Schools – speakers, Michael Pavelsky, AIA, LEED AP, Sustainability Manager, The Sheward Partnership LLC, “LEED for Existing Schools Pilot Program”; and Guy G. McUmber, Sustainability Coordinator, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, “Energy Star Program”.
The lunch keynote speaker is Lance Simmens, special assistant for intergovernmental affairs to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, “The Climate Project”.
Afternoon breakout sessions include:
Case Studies – speakers, Christopher Haupt, senior vice president, Kimball Architecture, “CTEC Case Study: LEED for New Construction and Education in Green Schools”; and Gary Moshier, AIA, LEED AP, partner, Moshier Studio; Bob Michel, building manager, Carriage House Children’s Center; and Samantha Balbier, director of development, Carriage House Children’s Center, “Carriage House Children’s Center: Implementing LEED for Existing Buildings”.
Learning Culture – speakers, Patty Vathis, environment and ecology curriculum advisor, Pennsylvania Department of Education, “Green Science and Ecology Standards”; Jane Konrad, director, Pittsburgh Regional Center for Science Teachers, University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, Department of Instruction and Learning, “Integrating Science, Technology and Society Into the Classroom”; and Collegiate Academy Green Team and J.S. Wilson Middle School Green Team, “Start a Green Team at Your School”.
According to GBA, 20 percent of residents in the United States attend school every day, more than 56 million students and more than four million administrators, faculty and staff. GBA believes green schools are healthier for students, teachers, and the environment. By promoting the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of green schools, tremendous impact on student health, test scores, teacher retention, school operational costs and the environment.
GBA reports that green schools result in $100,000 in savings per year; only two percent average increase in construction costs; $12 per square foot long-term direct savings; 30-50 percent reduction in energy usage; and 30-45 percent reduction in water usage.
GBA is a non-profit organization serving all of western Pennsylvania, and a leading advocate for smart solutions for the built environment in western Pennsylvania. GBA educates the region’s building industry professionals in green building practices; brings together building professionals to build new networks of collaboration in the region; funds the development of innovative green building products; offers research services and technical support for green building projects; advocates for the economic benefits of green building; champions western Pennsylvania as a leader in green building. GBA has an office in Pittsburgh and branches in Erie and the Laurel Highlands.