Division of Support Operations
LEED and Green Buildings
In an effort to maximize student achievement and cost savings, the District is committed to building resource-efficient, healthy school environments. One big part of that effort is the District's commitment to follow the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for all new construction.
Achievements and Future Projects
Our achievements in the area of green building and LEED design are as follows:
- In the 2008-2009 school year, opened the State of Florida's first LEED Gold-certified school (Pine Jog Elementary)
- In the 2009-2010 school year, opened two (anticipated) LEED-certified schools (Hope-Centennial Elementary and Clifford O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary)
- In the 2010-2011 school year, opened three (anticipated) LEED-certified schools (Everglades Elementary, Plumosa School of the Arts, and Northboro Elementary) and one green school (Pahokee Middle School) that will be certified under the Florida Green Building Coalition)
- Working to include interpretive signage and touchscreens at new schools to support the idea of "School as a Teaching Tool"
- Began energy evaluations of existing schools and entering data into EPA’s Energy Star program
- Evaluating feasibility of certifying certain existing schools under LEED for Existing Buildings/Operations & Maintenance rating system
- Over 40 District personnel have become LEED accredited professionals (APs)
Resources, Documents and Presentations
- "Greening South Florida Schools" presentation made by the Chief of Facilities at USGBC meeting
- http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/resources.aspx - links to great resources from the U.S. Green Building Council
- Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits by Gregory Katz
Architect's rendering of the new Plumosa School of the Arts in Delray