News – Page 2 – Education Facilities Clearinghouse

LEAD IN SCHOOLS? Water tests miss problem pipes

campusApril 19, 2016

Ithaca Journal, 2016.

Ithaca pediatrician Marguerite Uphoff remembers a time when leaded gasoline burned inside cars, lead-based paint covered bedroom walls, and school districts installed pipes with lead solder to deliver drinking water for children.

“There’s no question that lead is a neurotoxin, and even at low blood-lead levels, it has the potential to affect development, behavior and learning ability,” she said.

In 2016, motors run on unleaded gas, and the lead-based paint can be easily detected and removed. Lead pipes and lead solder, however, are more expensive to replace and often harder to find. While some regulations exist to protect people from lead in drinking water, recent tests at local schools reveal a gap in the rules designed to protect children.

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Designing a Safe Campus

campusApril 18, 2016

American School and University, 2016

Campus safety is a perennial concern for schools and universities, yet addressing campus safety is unique to each institution. Every campus faces its own set of safety challenges. A community college with a commuter enrollment often has expansive parking lots that require monitoring during regular class hours, for example, while a four-year residential college with diverse housing options will require 24/7 security measures.

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Kids Taught In Green Schools Are Way More Environmentally Responsible

campusApril 18, 2016

Charlie Sorrel, 2016

Green schools aren't only effective at helping the environment—they can also produce kids who are more knowledgeable about environmental issues.

"The idea is that by being exposed to this innovative design every day at school, along with a sustainable school culture fostered by educators, students will inherently learn and appreciate the importance of green buildings," says Laura Cole, a professor of architectural studies in the University of Missouri's College of Human Environmental Sciences.

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How California Schools Save Millions Using Energy Storage

campusApril 18, 2016

Clean Technica, 2016

On March 1st San Diego’s third largest school district joined a growing number of school districts in California turning to energy storage to save on energy bills. Grossmont Union High School District in San Diego’s east county region announced plans to install 7.4 megawatt hours of energy storage across 14 sites and nine district locations in a partnership with California-based Green Charge Networks.

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Designing for a Long Life: Sustainable Schools

campusApril 18, 2016

School Planning and Management, 2016

When we say a building has good bones, our thoughts rarely turn toward green design. Yet the issue of a building’s longevity is directly tied to its sustainability. The longer a school lasts — both through physical durability and functionality relevance — the fewer resources we must consume via new construction. During planning and design, there are many strategies owners and architects can apply to increase the life of a building.

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Classroom Colors Make a Difference

campusJanuary 21, 2016

Wagner, S.

Blue sky, green grass, yellow sun. Nearly everything in our world has some kind of color associated with it. We even have sayings that use colors in them. We say that someone is “green with envy,” “white as a sheet,” or “a yellow-bellied coward.” For painters, artists, interior designers, and marketers, the correct use of color is critical to the success of their business. But did you know that color can play an important role in the world of education, too?

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The Best Paint Color for Classroom Walls

campusJanuary 21, 2016

Dinsmore, K.

While there is no one best color for classroom walls, some are better than others. Although it may be easy to overlook, the right shade can transform an environment that distracts and frazzles students into a calm space. Walls should be painted a color that promotes a pleasant space where students can focus.

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Study: Clean Schools Promote Academic Success

campusJanuary 21, 2016

Facilities.net, 2008

A correlation exists between the cleanliness of school facilities and students’ academic achievements, according to a recent study of college students nationwide.

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Ninety-two percent of Americans agree: Where we learn matters

campusJanuary 19, 2016

USGBC, 2015

During the 2015 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the Center for Green Schools shared the results of a recent survey that measures the perceived state of public school buildings and awareness of green issues. The findings of the survey point to a growing awareness of the need for better school infrastructure.

This year, we saw a marked increase in support for improving schools. Up from 2013, 92 percent of Americans believe it is important to improve public school buildings, while nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans feel it is "very important." The results also show a shift of public opinion in the right direction, as American support for green schools is steadily increasing each year—72 percent in 2012, compared to 80 percent in 2015.

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Disability Offices, Accessibility, Privacy Attractive to Students Using Wheelchairs

campusDecember 9, 2015

College Planning and Management, 2015

MUNCIE, IN – Well-run disability services offices, accessible facilities and private rooms — along with strong academic programming — may be the key to helping students who use wheelchairs succeed on a college campus, says a new report from Ball State University.

“Pre-enrollment Considerations of Undergraduate Wheelchair Users and Their Post-enrollment Transitions” examined how high school students selected a university and how they adjusted to college. The study was recently published by the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability.

The college decision-making process for students using wheelchairs is more complex than other students, says the new report from a Ball State University team of researchers, composed of Roger Wessel, a higher education professor in the Department of Educational Studies; Darolyn Jones, an English professor; Larry Markle, director of Ball State’s Office of Disability Services; and Christina Blanch, a doctoral candidate in educational studies.

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