David Conrath with the solar array at TC Williams High School.

Green Schools Committee Tours Alexandria Green Schools

by Anna Foden, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Chapter Services Coordinator

David Conrath, Director of Construction for Alexandria City Public Schools, hosted the USGBC-NCR Chapter's Green Schools Committee on March 2nd for a hands-on tour of three schools with significant green improvements, or 'Greenovations'. The tour started at TC Williams High School Minnie Howard Campus, continued to James K. Polk Elementary School, and concluded at the John Adams School. Committee members witnessed geothermal and solar technologies, the latest LED lighting technologies, pre-fabricated classrooms, sunwells for lighting, and hands-on sustainability curriculum.

With tremendous community support, Alexandria City Public Schools have been able to implement Greenovations in their schools for years. While obviously passionate about sustainability, Mr. Conrath explained that there's nothing greener than money! His Greenovations have saved the school system thousands upon thousands of dollars in energy and water usage and costs, maintenance costs (e.g., since installing LED lighting in gymnasiums over a year ago, not one lightbulb has needed replacing), as well as served as important learning tools for the children. The boiler rooms of schools are now 'Greenovation Labs' where children come to learn about geothermal and solar technologies, as well as environmental stewardship. Solar arrays are out in front of the schools, rather than on roofs, so that they can be seen by the children and used as learning tools. This also allows them to serve a dual purpose - sun shading AND energy harnessing. Rooftrays for green roofs are planted by students with plants grown in an on-site student-run nursury, and pre-fabricated classrooms are equipped with water collection sytems that are displayed in accessible areas for hands-on learning. None of the construction of these Greenovations disrupted the students - all were implemented during the summer or after hours. TC Williams even had a closed-loop geothermal system installed under its paved bus parking lot DURING the school year. USGBC's Education Sector is driven by both the Green Schools Campaign and the Green Campus Campaign. Both initiatives seek to assist the members of the education sector in achieving their sustainability and green building goals to ensure green schools and green campuses within a generation. As displayed at these three outstanding schools in Alexandria, green schools make sense and CAN be done without breaking the bank. Learn more about Alexandria City Public School's Greenovations. To view more pictures from the tour, visit our Facebook page. Members of the Green Schools Committee are volunteers who are helping the chapter to promote the sustainable design, construction, renovation, and maintenance of schools throughout the Washington metropolitan area, and includes representatives from VA, DC, and MD.