Designing better learning environments

The concept of sustainable development reflects an understanding that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Innovative Design is strongly committed to designing schools that not only embrace the concept of sustainability but are, in themselves, teaching tools for sustainability.

• Develop the site in an environmentally sensitive manner.
• Understand and maximize natural site conditions.
• Design the site for easy pedestrian, bicycle, mass transit, and handicap accessibility.
  

• Incorporate daylighting as a significant lighting strategy for all main teaching and learning spaces.
• Orient buildings to maximize southern exposure and minimize east-west walls.
• Reduce cost by integrating daylighting components into overall design.
• Account for benefits of daylighting by reducing cooling equipment and electrical lighting.
  

• Design shell to address all radiant energy flows as well as conductive heat gain and loss.
• Select the optimum glazing for each location on the building.
• Provide proper window treatments to maximize winter solar gain and minimize summer overheating.
  

• Consider wide range of viable solar technologies including daylighting, passive heating, domestic hot water and space heating, absorption cooling, building integrated photovoltaics, and exterior photovoltaic lighting systems.
• Reduce the net cost of solar systems by integrating them into overall design elements.
• Employ solar technologies as integral parts of the school’s eco educational programs.
  

• Employ lighting systems that are compatible with the daylighting strategy and use full-spectrum lighting in well-utilized, non-daylit spaces.
• Utilize controls that reduce lighting levels in stages according to the amount of natural daylight in each space.
• Specify high-efficiency products that require low maintenance.
• Control key components of lighting, mechanical, and electrical systems with energy management system.
  

• Employ energy efficient mechanical system.
• Avoid oversizing equipment.
• Utilize waste heat wherever possible.
• Use energy efficient strategies to insure good indoor air quality.
  

• Consider the life-cycle energy and environmental impacts of products, materials, and processes.
• Specify products that are made from recycled materials.
• Prefer local products, materials, and services.
• Consider the impact the product has on the building operation and maintenance.
• Specify products that do not pollute
  

• Consider physical, biological, and chemical sources of potentially harmful contaminants and select environmentally friendly alternatives.
• Consider material placement, encapsulation, and the incorporation of barriers as means to insure good indoor air quality.
• Incorporate ASHRAE standards for air ventilation strategies and rates.
• Implement pollutant sensors and air quality monitoring equipment that controls fresh air make-up.
• Use natural ventilation strategies where practical.
  

• Harvest rainwater from the building roof and site for irrigation and toilet flushing.
• Avoid unnecessary water waste by incorporating low-flow and water conserving fixtures.
• Minimize water consumption for irrigation through the use of native plants and xeriscape principles
  

• Encourage contractors to recycle waste materials during construction.
• Design school to facilitate recycling by students and staff.
  

• Use alternative fuel and solar electric service vehicles and buses.
• Discourage single car travel by providing convenient connections to mass transit, safe
  bicycle paths, and pedestrian friendly walkways.
  

• Develop and implement an effective commissioning process that will help insure proper operation of mechanical, electrical, and solar systems.
• Recognize the needs for on-going efforts.
  

• Through the design of the building, send a clear message that sustainability matters.
• Design the school as a teaching tool for sustainability.