Pacific Northwest Region [pacificnorthwest.cefpi.org]

Reports – Fall 2004; Spring 2004; Winter 2006

Washington Chapter CEFPI – sustainable schools update, Spring 2004
Two years ago, the State Senate considered a bill that would require all schools in Washington receiving state funding to attain a LEED "silver" level or equivalent. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building rating system copyrighted by the US Green Building Council.

Amid concerns about unfunded mandates, and whether LEED was appropriate for school construction, the bill died. In reaction to these concerns, a committee was organized through the Washington Chapter CEFPI, and supported by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), to develop a standard for sustainable school construction that would be specific for Washington State.

These efforts provided an impetus for the legislature to fund the Washington Sustainable Schools program in the 2003-05 Capital Budget. The intent is to examine the impacts of resource efficient techniques on K-12 construction. The program has 3 phases: (1) a protocol development phase, (2) a pilot project phase, and (3) a bridge phase to recommend application of the results statewide. The selected K-12 school construction projects will use the protocol to directly assess their construction projects and ways to improve resource efficiency.The intent is to determine the incentives and program elements necessary for a successful participation of Washington State's K-12 schools.

These documents are now available in draft form on the web at www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/SustainableSchools.aspx Washington Sustainable Schools — Protocol for High Performance School Facilities; and Washington Sustainable Schools — Planning Workbook for High Performance School Facilities.

Approximately in June 2004, OSPI will invite schools to apply to participate in the pilot project phase; up to five schools will be selected. For further information, you may contact Carter Bagg, OSPI, at 425.503.5424, or cbagg@ospi.wednet.edu.

Washington Chapter CEFPI – sustainable schools update, Fall 2004
School Facilities Advisory Board
The School Facilities Advisory Board (SFAB) is alive and well! Tom Bassett is the Eastern Washington representative and Mike Currie serves as the representative for the west side of the state for the Washington Chapter of CEFPI. SFAB membership covers the educational waterfront of both the public and private sectors in order to have a balance of opinions and input. SFAB operates at the pleasure of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education and is one of the primary bodies providing advice on issues that affect the design, construction, and occupancy of public schools.

Most recently SFAB was involved in the drafting of the protocol documents for high performance (sustainable) schools in Washington and the selection process for five pilot projects that were funded by the Legislature. The development of the protocol, a voluntary checklist to be used by districts and school designers, was achieved over many months by a dedicated group of individuals, many of whom are CEFPI members. The information obtained from the five projects will be transmitted to the Legislature this Fall in the form of a report that will be used to guide the future of high performance school construction.

The Bethel, Northshore, Olympia, Spokane, and Tacoma school districts were chosen from the many districts that submitted projects for this study. Information on "green" systems ranging from geothermal heating systems to daylighting to storm water management should provide solid data relating cost of construction to cost of ownership. Such information will be vital to any future attempts to mandate the use of sustainable construction in public schools.

Information about SFAB, including summaries of meetings and membership information can be found at http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/AdvisoryBoard.aspx or by contacting Tom at tbassett@doharchitects.com or Mike at mcurrie@bainbridge.wednet.edu.

Washington Chapter CEFPI – sustainable schools update, Winter 2006
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