Climate change is real and accelerating. It requires an urgent response that focuses all the strategies and tactics necessary to stabilize the Earth's temperature regime. According to Thomas Jorling, the objective to guide research, development and implementation is straightforward: Achieve an all-electric economy. Simply put, all sectors of…

School design utilizing integrated architectural and structural precast and prestressed concrete components has gained greater acceptance recently for numerous reasons, including increasingly sophisticated owners and improved learning environments based on material benefits such as: sustainability, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, storm…

This article describes how the certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council has been a popular way for colleges to "go green," but its certification process has been hampering colleges' efforts. The private, nonprofit Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has become synonymous with green construction,…

A lot of misunderstandings exist regarding sustainable, or green, construction. It is important that educators understand the benefits so they can communicate them to stakeholders. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a $4 investment (per square foot) in building green nets a $58 benefit (per square foot) over 20 years. Savings…

Schools and universities throughout the United States now appear to be embracing green roofs as one of many environmentally friendly initiatives. However, once a green roof is in place, school managers soon realize they are not the same as typical landscaping. Although they tend to be relatively low-maintenance, the location and highly specialized…

A Pennsylvania school district faced an immediate need for additional classroom space at a high school. In seven months, a module containing four relocatable classrooms was installed and is considered an attractive addition to the school campus. (MLF)

Describes several ways to design or renovate school building to save thousand of dollars of energy costs. Considers site design, energy-efficient building envelope, renewable energy systems, lighting and electrical systems, mechanical and ventilation systems, water conservation, and transportation. Describes how to obtain information about the…

A Long Island, New York, school district has used portable classrooms to deal with the space problems caused by temporary spikes in student enrollment. The overall cost of using portable classrooms to solve long-term problems eventually surpasses the overall cost of building permanent structures. Lists guidelines for determining when to use…

This document contains nationally recognized educational-facility designs, including the 1994 James D. MacConnell Award Winner--Heritage Oak Elementary School in Roseville, California. The architectural designs of other schools are also included--10 elementary schools, 6 high schools, 1 vocational school, 3 institutes of higher education, 1…

As library funding decreases, choosing to convert an unused building into a library is a beneficial alternative to building a new facility. Reuse saves money, building time, and gains greater community support. Offers advice on how to choose a location and what to look for in structure, mechanics, electrical resources; and discusses challenges in…

Discusses the design of combined school/public libraries and includes the views of three high school librarians and two elementary school librarians who helped create combined libraries. Topics include physical design issues, including entrances, lighting, and location; funding; cost benefits; contracts; signage; and parking. (LRW)

To help libraries and other holdings institutions better incorporate preservation concerns in construction, renovation, and routine maintenance, various techniques are presented that allow preservation concerns to be integrated. The following topics are considered: (1) site selection; (2) design of the building envelope; (3) the library interior;…

Improving the quality of educational buildings is one of the objectives of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Programme on Educational Building (PEB). The PEB does this by disseminating information about ways to produce quality educational buildings at a reasonable cost. This report contains descriptions of buildings…

Examines issues that librarians need to address when remodeling or designing school libraries. Topics discussed include the librarian's role in decision making; cost considerations; evaluation of present services as well as future needs; the importance of communication; location; library technology; furniture; and the role of architects and…

For many remote northern communities, especially Native American communities, school design, construction, and heating would be more culturally and technologically appropriate if local materials and expertise were utilized. Following World War II, the period of the most rapid "de-localization" of northern communities, the allegedly…