Every 8th grader at Sidwell Friends Middle School takes environmental science. The course focuses on four significant environmental issues that will confront our students: Biodiversity loss, Global climate change, Water stress, and Human population growth. The students learn the biological, physical, and ecological science concepts required to understand the significance of these issues and what they can do to help address them, both collectively and individually. At the end of the course, each student writes a personal code of environmental ethics based upon what they have learned. We place each statement into large manila envelopes that serve as middle school time capsules preserving memories of middle school. The students open them again when they are graduating seniors. Aiding us significantly in this course is the Sidwell Friends middle school building. Beginning operation in 2006, the building is the first platinum-rated LEEDS school building in the world. The 8th science students begin their course by taking three days to learn the building features that conserve energy, eliminate storm water runoff, reduce water pollution, use renewable and recycled materials, and provide both a healthy and pleasant environment inside the building and a wildlife-friendly natural habitat outside. We then inform the students that although they now are familiar with the green features of the building, they do not know WHY the school felt it necessary to construct it. The rest of the year in the course is designed to make this clear.

The Middle School building uses approximately 60% less energy than standard construction. Artificial lighting is used only as needed to augment natural light. To reduce energy use, lights are controlled by occupancy sensors as well as photocells that automatically adjust the level of artificial lighting according to the amount of daylight available. Improved building envelope design includes a roof that exceeds the thermal property requirements of standard building design by 155% and walls that exceed the same requirements by a factor of three. Windows are twice as insulating as energy standard insulating properties. The central air system takes advantage of an “economizer” operation to eliminate mechanical cooling by bringing in fresh air when outside air temperatures are appropriate; it also uses energy recovery to minimize waste of mechanical cooling and heating. To reduce overall demand on the building’s cooling system, solar shades have been erected in key solar orientations. At the Lower School, the new facilities use one-third less energy than standard construction. Artificial lighting is used only as needed to augment natural light. To reduce energy use, lights are controlled by occupancy sensors as well as photocells that automatically adjust the level of artificial lighting according to the amount of daylight available. Improved building envelope design includes a roof that exceeds the thermal property requirements of standard building design by 155% and walls that exceed the same requirements by a factor of three. Windows are twice as insulating as energy standard insulating properties. The central air system takes advantage of an “economizer” operation to eliminate mechanical cooling by bringing in fresh air when outside air temperatures are appropriate; it also uses energy recovery to minimize waste of mechanical cooling and heating. To reduce overall demand on the building’s cooling system, solar shades have been erected in key solar orientations. Ninety-one percent of the roof surfaces and 52% of the total paving have been designed to reduce the heat island effect, caused by sun hitting dark surfaces that then raise the temperature of the local microclimate. Our new Athletic Center with an artificial turf field on the roof opened in fall 2010. Sidwell is seeking a LEED rating for this project. The building's heating and cooling runs out of the central utility plant in the Middle School basement; no extra chillers or boilers were needed. Because two and a half sides of the athletic center are underground, the walls are well insulated, and underground temperatures remain steady at around 55 degrees—perfect to counter the heat generated by solar heat gain, lighting, and the physical activity of the students. Almost every room in the building has occupancy light sensors that automatically turn lights on and off as people enter and depart rooms. The main gym area has many light switches so that courts can be lighted separately.

http://www.sidwell.edu/about_sfs/environmental-stewardship/solar-bonds/index.aspx

Traditional desserts are offered in the dining room only as a special treat, while fresh fruit and yogurt are offered daily. A balance of healthy snacks with more typical/traditional snacks are offered in the cafe and vending machines.

The goal of our housekeeping program is to maintain a truly healthy learning environment. Our focus is on cleaning for health, not just appearance. All of our contracted cleaning staff receive training on green cleaning prior to and during their employment. They use energy-efficient equipment selected to have less environmental impact—low moisture processes, quieter operation, higher filtration, and lower emissions. Solar Compactor Our cleaning service provider uses Green Seal Certified cleaning products. Our paper products are also Green Seal Certified, including 100% recycled paper towels and toilet tissues. Recycling allows us to reduce our burdens on the environment as a result of both solid waste disposal and the extraction of the natural raw materials. We recycle mixed paper, cardboard, cans, glass, and type 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE) plastics. Additionally, we use a solar-powered trash compactor on our Wisconsin Avenue campus that operates on 100% solar energy. While its footprint is the same as an ordinary trash receptacle, its capacity is five times greater. This increased capacity reduces collection trips and can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

A carbon dioxide monitoring system that is interconnected to an outdoor air supply system automatically provides fresh air when sensors indicate that carbon dioxide levels inside a room exceed minimum acceptable levels. Walk-off mats and floor grilles are provided at all building entries and exits to reduce the quantities of contaminants introduced to the building. Only low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials were used in the construction of the building. All heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigerant systems use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free refrigerants, thus reducing the impact of the school on the atmospheric ozone layer.

When selecting materials to use in our Middle School green building, we included recycled, rapidly renewable, and locally produced materials. Paints, carpets, and adhesives were selected for low emission of volatile organic compounds. Much of the wood that is not reclaimed comes from environmentally certified sources. • 78% of our building materials were manufactured regionally to minimize energy needed to transport them to our site. • 11% of our building materials are from recycled sources. • 60% of construction waste was diverted from landfills and recycled.

For energy efficiency we have installed dual flush toilets, low flow self-cancelling showers, and motion activated faucets with aerators. Our Middle school wetlands system cleans and recirculates black and gray water back into the toilets and urinals to be re-used.

The Middle School was completed in September 2006 and was awarded a LEED Platinum rating in March 2007. It was the first K-12 school in the world to have a LEED Platinum rating and the first LEED Platinum building in the District of Columbia. The Lower School Gym and Groome Building addition were completed in September 2007. The project was awarded a LEED Gold rating in January 2009. The school’s existing arts center and former gymnasium transformed and expanded in spring 2011 into a Quaker Meeting House and Arts Center. Sidwell Friends is seeking a Platinum LEED rating for this project.

Sidwell’s Middle School has won the following awards: • Top 10 Green Projects, Committee on the Environment, American Institute of Architects, 2007 • Award for Excellence, National Committee for Architecture on Education, American Institute of Architects, 2007 • 2011 Sustainability Award, American Society of Civil Engineers - National Capital Section • Honor Award, Sustainable Design Awards, Boston Society of Architects, 2007 • AIA Philadelphia Awards for Design Excellence in 2006, Recognition Award, Un-Built Project • 2007 Craftsmanship Awards, Special Construction and Landscaping, Washington Building Congress • 2008 Western Red Cedar Architectural Design Award • 2009 EcoLeadership Award, Alliance for Workplace Excellence

Sidwell's Middle School building became the first K-12 building in the World to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rating from the U. S. Green Building Council, and the first LEED Platinum building of any type in the District of Columbia. Sidwell’s Middle School has since attracted more than 10,000 visitors eager to see innovative green technologies in action, while the number of page views for the online Middle School building has reached almost 26,000 (as of January, 2012).

Media Coverage http://www.sidwell.edu/about_sfs/greenbuilding_media.aspx