Adopting integrated design is a powerful approach to creating greener and more energy-efficient facilities during school remodeling or renovation projects. This metric emphasizes collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and school stakeholders from the earliest planning stages to ensure that sustainability goals are met effectively. Integrated design considers the entire building lifecycle, optimizing energy performance, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing occupant well-being.
Globally, buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (IEA). Schools that implement integrated design principles can significantly reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while creating healthier and more productive learning environments. By prioritizing sustainable construction and renovation, schools contribute to a greener future and set an example for their communities.
Strategies for Adopting Integrated Design
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Engage a Multidisciplinary Team Early
Include architects, engineers, sustainability experts, and school representatives in the planning process from the start.
Foster collaboration to ensure sustainability goals are integrated into every aspect of the design.
Set Clear Sustainability Goals
Define objectives such as achieving net-zero energy, reducing water use, or improving indoor air quality.
Align goals with recognized green building standards like LEED or Passive House.
Incorporate Energy-Efficient Design
Optimize building orientation and layout to maximize natural light and minimize energy use.
Use high-performance insulation, windows, and HVAC systems to reduce heating and cooling demands.
Use Sustainable Materials
Choose materials with low embodied carbon, such as recycled or renewable products.
Prioritize locally sourced materials to reduce transportation emissions.
Design for Renewable Energy Integration
Plan for the installation of solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy systems.
Include infrastructure for future energy upgrades, such as battery storage or electric vehicle charging stations.
Optimize Water Efficiency
Install low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and greywater recycling systems.
Use drought-resistant landscaping to reduce irrigation needs.
Create Flexible and Adaptive Spaces
Design multi-use areas that can be easily adapted for future needs, reducing the need for additional construction.
Use modular construction techniques to allow for expansion without major renovations.
Focus on Indoor Environmental Quality
Incorporate natural ventilation, daylighting, and low-VOC materials to improve air quality and occupant comfort.
Use acoustic design strategies to create quieter, more focused learning environments.
Model and Simulate Performance
Use energy modeling software to predict and optimize the building’s performance.
Simulate factors like lighting, ventilation, and energy consumption to refine design choices.
Monitor and Evaluate Post-Construction
Conduct post-occupancy evaluations to measure the building’s performance against initial goals.
Use feedback to improve future projects and share successes with the school community.
Involve Students and Staff in the Process
Engage the school community in brainstorming sustainable design ideas.
Use the construction or renovation process as a teaching opportunity for STEM and environmental education.
Plan for Long-Term Sustainability
Design buildings that are durable, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient over their entire lifecycle.
Include plans for future retrofits or upgrades to adapt to evolving sustainability standards.
‘How To’ Guides
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Green Schools Investment Guide
From the US Center for Green Schools, a guide to assessing building improvement opportunities, and finance and implementation strategies.
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Additional Resources
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Zero-Energy Schools: The Cost-Barrier Illusion
From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a report on the costs of renovations and energy efficiency upgrades versus long term savings.
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Green Building Design Partners
If your district is ready for a design partner to renovate or create towards zero-emissions, a list curated by UndauntedK12 of experienced green school design firms.
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10 Reasons to Choose Healthier, Sustainable Flooring
From the Center for Environmental Health, a guide to help understanding the wide-ranging benefits of sustainable carpeting and flooring.
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Technical Specs for Resilient Flooring
From the Center for Environmental Health, technical specifications for resilient flooring, for use in invitations to bid and requests for proposals.
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Technical Specs for Healthier Furniture
From the Center for Environmental Health, technical specifications for chemically safer furniture and fabrics.
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Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: Selecting Healthier carpet, flooring & furniture
From the Center for Environmental Health, a webinar discussing tips for purchasers aiming to select healthier carpet, flooring, and furniture.
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Concrete vs Sustainable Design
From ClimateScience, a short video — appropriate for adults and students — to understand the issue problems with concrete, and more sustainable alternatives.
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Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.