 The Sidbwell Friends Middle School is the perfect example of how environmental stewardship can and should be integrated into education. EnviroCitizen.org believes that it makes educational and moral sense. It's so much more than telling children to hug trees; it's about teaching them about the natural world and their relationship to it.
The Sidwell Friends Middle School, located in Washington D.C., is fiercely green in practice. Guided by Quaker values, Sidwell Friends School built their new Middle School with responsible, environmental stewardship in mind. To them, the Middle School building's green design was a logical expression of their values. The United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program awarded the Sidwell Friends Middle School with a Platinum certification. It's the first K-12 school in the entire country to be given LEED Platinum certification and the first building in Washington D.C. to receive the highest ranking certification in the LEED program. Sidwell Friends School has done a lot more than build just one green building. Their Lower School Groome Addition and Gym was built a couple years ago and was awarded the LEED Gold certification. The Zartman House, which houses the administration staff, was renovated and outfitted with green features, as well. They didn't seek LEED certification, but with a geothermal heating system, low emitting materials and efficient lighting, it likely exceeds many LEED standards (they did not seek any LEED certification due to timing constraints). They are currently working on several new renovation projects.
The Sidwell Friends Middle School was chosen by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as one of the Environment Top Ten Green Projects in 2007 for good reason. Bicycle storage and showers are available to encourage alternative transportation and a green roof helps to insulate the building, as well as to reduce water waste. They constructed a wetland to further reduce storm water runoff, as well as to improve the quality of infiltrated runoff. The constructed wetland naturally treats wastewater, which is then reused in their toilets and cooling towers. Sidwell Friends Schools also offsets their electricity and gas for all of their buildings as well as for employee travel by purchasing carbon offset credits. The building was placed to incorporate passive solar heating and natural day light. They have very efficient lighting and a photo sensing technology that automatically turns lights off when rooms are vacant, also dimming artificial lighting when natural light is sufficient. The building is dotted with solar photovoltaic panels, too. During construction they used reclaimed materials, like exterior cladding, flooring and stone. The interior finishes used have high levels of recycled content, low chemical emissions and were selected because of their renewable qualities. Clearly, the Sidwell Friends Middle School is a great example of green building.
EnviroCitizen.org is hopeful that we will see other green schools similar to the Sidwell Friends School come into existence in the near future!
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