Chartwell School, CA Green Campus Features

Type: Policy
Status: In effect
Source File: http://www.chartwell.org/index.cfm?Page=132
Description:
LEED and CHPS at Chartwell
In designing our new campus, Chartwell has made student health and learning our highest priorities. Chartwell adopted practices that follow widely accepted standards for both energy and environmental design and for high performance schools.
Did it cost more? We limited extra initial cost to 5-10% above conventional design for each item. Using life cycle cost analysis, which includes savings on operating costs, the high performance, green features of our new campus will eventually more than pay for themselves and result in long-term savings in operating costs. They will also enhance learning outcomes for students.
We hope that others will learn from what we have done and get ideas for their own projects, large or small. We were inspired by the green school projects built nearby at York School and Moss Landing Marine Labs. We hope that our campus will inspire even more new ways of thinking about what a school should be. Please contact Chartwell if you would like to arrange a visit to the new campus or for additional information.
Here are some of the ways Chartwell has followed LEED and CHPS protocols. 
 
1. Chartwell selected a site that had been previously developed, but was no longer needed by the U.S. Army. After the site was declared free of explosive ordinance, we began construction, limiting our new campus to the previously developed portion of the site, and preserving 20 acres of coastal oak woodlands and marine chaparral. We corrected previous erosion and stormwater runoff problems, designed lighting to reduce light pollution, chose roofing and landscaping materials to minimize any potential heat-island effects, and provided charging and changing facilities for alternative transportation.
2. Daylighting has been shown to enhance student outcomes in language arts and mathematics. Well-designed, natural lighting also reduces the need for electricity, thus saving energy. Chartwell’s new campus uses large windows and skylights to maximize these benefits.
3. Energy efficiency reduces operating expenses, conserves natural resources, and reduces pollution. Chartwell uses a 30 kw photovoltaic system to convert solar energy to electricity. The solar system is expected to produce more than 53 million Watt-hours of electricity per year and will offset the production of 54,000 pounds of CO2 annually, the same as planting 8 acres of trees. The system will also eliminate 1.3 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 16 pounds of nitrous oxide each year. Our electric meter often runs backwards as we furnish power back to the grid. Radiant floor heating produces heat where students need it, while excellent insulation and glass selected to conduct light but not heat also help conserve energy. Energy use will be 60% or more below that of similar, conventional buildings. 
 
4. Chartwell’s buildings will use 60% less water than conventional buildings. Chartwell conserves water through state-of-the-art fixtures, water-efficient landscaping, and a cistern for rainwater storage and use. We have put systems in place to connect to a planned regional recycled water system for irrigation as soon as it becomes available. 
 
5. Good indoor air quality protects student health. Chartwell has selected furnishings, finishes, materials and equipment specifically designed to eliminate pollution from volatile organic compounds and other sources. CO2 sensors adjust natural ventilation as needed. Our construction crews were also attentive to adequate ventilation and good indoor air quality during the building and finishing process.
 
6. Acoustics are especially important for Chartwell students, since some have difficulty hearing sounds accurately, and others must work hard to focus attention. We have designed and built to eliminate or greatly reduce mechanical and outside noise, and improve communication within each classroom.
 
7. We will maintain a regular maintenance schedule for ongoing energy efficiency and to prevent breakdowns. This, plus environmentally safe cleaning products will help produce an excellent teaching and learning environment. 
 
8. There is much to learn about our many innovative systems, so teachers and staff are involved in commissioning, to be sure that all of our building features are working as expected, and training to adjust and use them properly. 
 
9. Chartwell has used sustainably harvested, certified lumber for construction. Finish materials include reclaimed wood, carpet and flooring made from recycled or sustainably produced natural materials, and even green concrete, produced in ways that greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
10. We designed to minimize waste during construction, and also constructed our campus so we can re-use of building components as needs change over time. Students and faculty are already making recycling a strong part of ongoing operations. During construction and also when removing a pre-existing structure, 80% or more of unused materials were recycled instead of impacting local landfills.
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