Energy Conservation
Longfellow's School-wide Renovation
The Longfellow Elementary School renovation and addition project is aspiring to become a LEED certified project. Through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this project will follow the USGBC 2009 Edition of "LEED for SCHOOLS" in order to obtain this certification. The four levels of certification through the USGBC are: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The underlying goals of becoming a certified "Green" building are to conserve energy and water, and provide healthier materials, which in turn help provide a better environment and help reduce negative impacts on the facility's occupants and the environment. In order to achieve this goal, the design team includes TerraLogos, a LEED consultant that will work closely with the rest of the design team to help develop and maintain the project goals. The LEED process of this project is to include an initial "LEED workshop" to determine the specific credits the design team will incorporate into the design. TerraLogos will conduct the workshop in conjunction with the rest of the team. Once the LEED goals have been established, TerraLogos will continue to review the individual systems within the project's design to help guide the team towards the appropriate goals. As the process continues, the "working" LEED scorecard will be provided to identify the potential credits the project is striving to achieve. The following are examples of equipment, materials, and procedures that will be incorporated by the design team to provide a sustainable, energy efficient and healthy environment:
In conjunction with striving to become a certified LEED building, the design team will be conducting an energy assessment of the existing facility and the proposed design. Gipe Associates, as part of the design team, will review the power usage of the building and provide suggestions for the design to improve energy and cost efficiency.
The Longfellow Elementary School renovation and addition project is aspiring to become a LEED certified project. Through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this project will follow the USGBC 2009 Edition of "LEED for SCHOOLS" in order to obtain this certification. The four levels of certification through the USGBC are: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The underlying goals of becoming a certified "Green" building are to conserve energy and water, and provide healthier materials, which in turn help provide a better environment and help reduce negative impacts on the facility's occupants and the environment. In order to achieve this goal, the design team includes TerraLogos, a LEED consultant that will work closely with the rest of the design team to help develop and maintain the project goals. The LEED process of this project is to include an initial "LEED workshop" to determine the specific credits the design team will incorporate into the design. TerraLogos will conduct the workshop in conjunction with the rest of the team. Once the LEED goals have been established, TerraLogos will continue to review the individual systems within the project's design to help guide the team towards the appropriate goals. As the process continues, the "working" LEED scorecard will be provided to identify the potential credits the project is striving to achieve. The following are examples of equipment, materials, and procedures that will be incorporated by the design team to provide a sustainable, energy efficient and healthy environment:
- Low Flow and Dual Flush Plumbing Fixtures: The use of low flow urinals which use half the water of a traditional urinal will be incorporated into the design where feasible.
- High Efficiency Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment: The use of high efficiency HVAC roof top equipment will be utilized in the replacement of existing units. The possible use of energy recovery units will be investigated for use where applicable.
- CO2 Sensors: Carbon dioxide sensors will be utilized for high occupant density spaces to limit the quantity of outside air used when these spaces are not fully occupied. This would limit the amount of energy used to heat and cool these large spaces, like the gymnasium.
- Low Emitting Materials: Where possible, materials that are found to reduce the use of high Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) will be used to enhance indoor air quality and provide an environment free of odorous, irritating, and/or harmful indoor air contaminants.
- Lighting Controls: Sustainable lighting control design in a typical classroom includes low voltage switches and occupancy sensors.
- Recycled Materials: Where the use is appropriate, recycled materials will be specified and used for the construction of the building.
In conjunction with striving to become a certified LEED building, the design team will be conducting an energy assessment of the existing facility and the proposed design. Gipe Associates, as part of the design team, will review the power usage of the building and provide suggestions for the design to improve energy and cost efficiency.
Our Schools Energy Conservation Assembly & Partnership
In 2015 Longfellow and Our Schools partnered to raise our community's awareness of energy conservation. During our 2nd Annual LoES Green Week, Our schools shared ways our students could conserve energy because "It just makes sense!" Lessons were incorporated in to daily instruction to support learning beyond the assembly. Additionally, we will partner to offer families free energy audits to help reduce energy use at home. Additional information is listed on The Top 5 page of this website.
In 2015 Longfellow and Our Schools partnered to raise our community's awareness of energy conservation. During our 2nd Annual LoES Green Week, Our schools shared ways our students could conserve energy because "It just makes sense!" Lessons were incorporated in to daily instruction to support learning beyond the assembly. Additionally, we will partner to offer families free energy audits to help reduce energy use at home. Additional information is listed on The Top 5 page of this website.
PM Announcement Green Reminders
At the end of each and every school day our PM Announcers remind our staff to "...help keep Longfellow Green! Please power down, turn off, and unplug your electronic devices before leaving."
At the end of each and every school day our PM Announcers remind our staff to "...help keep Longfellow Green! Please power down, turn off, and unplug your electronic devices before leaving."
Copy Free Fridays
Longfellow's first ever Copy Free Friday, where we unplug ALL photocopiers throughout Longfellow, is scheduled on April 25, 2014, as part of our Inaugural Green Week. We hope to hold another Copy Free Friday in May and then throughout the 2014-2015 school year. By powering down and unplugged our copiers for the day we hope to decrease our energy usage and reduce paper usage throughout our school.
Longfellow's first ever Copy Free Friday, where we unplug ALL photocopiers throughout Longfellow, is scheduled on April 25, 2014, as part of our Inaugural Green Week. We hope to hold another Copy Free Friday in May and then throughout the 2014-2015 school year. By powering down and unplugged our copiers for the day we hope to decrease our energy usage and reduce paper usage throughout our school.
Earth Pals
Mr. Yoo's 3rd grade class in collaboration with Library Media and a 3rd grade class at Rossville Elementary in Rossville, IN considered ways the students and schools can be more earth friendly. Rossville decided to focus on recycling while Longfellow focused on energy conservation. The classes Skyped several times and also interacted through Edmodo. Longfellow students generated a list of appliances that use energy throughout our building and measured these objects using voltmeters to determine how much it costs the school per day/week/year to have the appliance on for the length of a school day versus keeping it off. The students then calculated how much energy each of the appliances use (ie. total number of laptops in school building, etc.). The students worked to design an info-graphic which was incorporated into a TED Talk-style presentation of their work and findings to their classmates, the Longfellow staff, and our friends at Rossville.
Watt Watchers
Our fifth grade students are working to conserve energy by increasing our school community's awareness of energy conservation. Our students created light switch signs for our school's light switches in hopes that our students and staff will remember to turn the lights off once they exit the room. Additionally, the Watt Watchers hope to encourage teachers to "unplug" their electronic devices at the end of the school day and school week through daily announcements. These Watt Watching efforts will undoubtedly decrease our energy usage and carbon footprint.