Comments on: Top 5 Reasons to Build an L.E.E.D. Certified High School http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/ peace, privacy and political reform with an eye on freedom, liberty, education, and community Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:14:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: =fen http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1157 =fen Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:28:31 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1157 Side note: <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/eco-friendly/philadelphia-green-building-skyscraper-460317" rel="nofollow">Philadelphia Proposes Record-Breaking New Green Skyscraper</a>: <blockquote> the designers are planning on making the Philly landmark a green building, even hoping to earn an impressive gold certification (same as the Hearst Tower in NYC) from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program. That means a high degree of energy and water efficiency, which should save millions of dollars in operating expenses over the years, as well as result in a much reduced ecological footprint. </blockquote> Side note: Philadelphia Proposes Record-Breaking New Green Skyscraper:

the designers are planning on making the Philly landmark a green building, even hoping to earn an impressive gold certification (same as the Hearst Tower in NYC) from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. That means a high degree of energy and water efficiency, which should save millions of dollars in operating expenses over the years, as well as result in a much reduced ecological footprint.

]]> By: James Fraasch http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1156 James Fraasch Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:09:56 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1156 Fen, unfortunately I will not be able to attend tonight. Please let me know if you want to get together and talk about what they say at the meeting. Hopefully it will show some promise. James Fen, unfortunately I will not be able to attend tonight. Please let me know if you want to get together and talk about what they say at the meeting. Hopefully it will show some promise.

James

]]> By: James Fraasch http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1155 James Fraasch Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:13:02 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1155 Fen had sent an email to the Board last week. I responded to him about the possibility of employing a Public Private Partnership to accomplish his goal. There have been many examples of successful PPPs with School Districts and we are fortunate to have someone from the Niagra Falls School District down in our area tomorrow night (Tuesday) to talk about how they built an $85 million school without increasing taxes. While I have reached out to the Niagra Falls School District for more information, what I know today is based on this recent article from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_555670.html If family committments allow, I will be at this meeting. Many people know that I have floated the idea of a Public Private Partnership in relation to the high school project. It is my personal opinion that no matter what option is chosen for the project, the District needs to make sure it turns over every rock to find ways to lessen the tax impact on the residents of Mt Lebanon as much as possible. Over the course of the last year I have had numerous meetings with companies and organizations that deal with PPPs and it is my sincere hope that I can bring some of these people to Mt Lebanon to talk about ways that they can benefit both the school district and the municipality. I hope to have more information in the coming months. Fen had sent an email to the Board last week. I responded to him about the possibility of employing a Public Private Partnership to accomplish his goal. There have been many examples of successful PPPs with School Districts and we are fortunate to have someone from the Niagra Falls School District down in our area tomorrow night (Tuesday) to talk about how they built an $85 million school without increasing taxes.

While I have reached out to the Niagra Falls School District for more information, what I know today is based on this recent article from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_555670.html

If family committments allow, I will be at this meeting.

Many people know that I have floated the idea of a Public Private Partnership in relation to the high school project. It is my personal opinion that no matter what option is chosen for the project, the District needs to make sure it turns over every rock to find ways to lessen the tax impact on the residents of Mt Lebanon as much as possible.

Over the course of the last year I have had numerous meetings with companies and organizations that deal with PPPs and it is my sincere hope that I can bring some of these people to Mt Lebanon to talk about ways that they can benefit both the school district and the municipality.

I hope to have more information in the coming months.

]]> By: Rob Papke http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1154 Rob Papke Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:15:06 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1154 When the 7 MtL Elementary Schools were renovated, beginning in 2003, some Green technology was incorporated into their design: digitally controlled thermostats, UV glass/windows, sensors on hand facets, low flow toilets & light sensors in the classrooms. However, these are pretty much standard procedure for most construction projects today. To move forward MtL now needs to take the next step and go LEED w/the HS building project. There is a segment of our taxpayers that are uniformed w/regards to Green technology. Also, our commissioners have virtually no say in what the district does. The School Board needs to hear from us (either via email or at the school board meetings). Please talk w/your neighbors and friends, we need to flood them with our interest. Make your voices heard. When the 7 MtL Elementary Schools were renovated, beginning in 2003, some Green technology was incorporated into their design: digitally controlled thermostats, UV glass/windows, sensors on hand facets, low flow toilets & light sensors in the classrooms. However, these are pretty much standard procedure for most construction projects today.
To move forward MtL now needs to take the next step and go LEED w/the HS building project. There is a segment of our taxpayers that are uniformed w/regards to Green technology. Also, our commissioners have virtually no say in what the district does.
The School Board needs to hear from us (either via email or at the school board meetings). Please talk w/your neighbors and friends, we need to flood them with our interest. Make your voices heard.

]]> By: =fen http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1152 =fen Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:44:26 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1152 Cool! This post has been <a href="http://bloglebo.blogspot.com/2008/03/building-leed-high-school.html" rel="nofollow">linked to from Blog-Lebo</a>, Mike Madison's top-shelf blog of all things Mt. Lebanon. Thanks, Mike! Cool! This post has been linked to from Blog-Lebo, Mike Madison’s top-shelf blog of all things Mt. Lebanon.

Thanks, Mike!

]]> By: Schultz http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1151 Schultz Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:18:12 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1151 Fen, Great idea. I mentioned retrofitting the existing schools in Mt Lebo with solar panels and energy saving devices to one of the Mt Lebo commissioner. They said that they believed that the schools were recently updated and that unfortunately they had failed to include any green design in the upgrades. I think a big problem with our idea is the taxpayers, especially taxpayers here in Western PA, who don't want to pay more for LEED or green design even though in the long run it will save them money in the form of lower energy costs and a cleaner environment. Check out my blog "<a href="http://thegreenagenda.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Green is Good</a>" and let's discuss some ideas for a greener Mt Lebanon. Chris Fen,

Great idea. I mentioned retrofitting the existing schools in Mt Lebo with solar panels and energy saving devices to one of the Mt Lebo commissioner. They said that they believed that the schools were recently updated and that unfortunately they had failed to include any green design in the upgrades. I think a big problem with our idea is the taxpayers, especially taxpayers here in Western PA, who don’t want to pay more for LEED or green design even though in the long run it will save them money in the form of lower energy costs and a cleaner environment. Check out my blog “Green is Good” and let’s discuss some ideas for a greener Mt Lebanon.

Chris

]]> By: =fen http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1147 =fen Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:14:36 +0000 http://blog.fen.net/2008/03/07/top-5-reasons-to-build-an-leed-certified-high-school/#comment-1147 <i>My letter to the school board follows:</i> Hello - My family and I recently moved to Mt Lebanon from San Francisco, California for three primary reasons: great public schools, affordable (certainly compared to California!) real estate, and proximity to a city with major colleges and culture. During our almost two years of research to determine where in the country was the best place to move - summed up on my blog <a href="http://blog.fen.net/2007/04/30/dreams-become-reality" rel="nofollow">http://blog.fen.net/2007/04/30/dreams-become-reality</a> - the fact that Pittsburgh was leading the country in the number of L.E.E.D. certified buildings also played a key role in making our decision. While I strongly urge L.E.E.D. certification for our new high school - as I think it will provide a great boost to Mt Lebanon as a visionary leader - I find it imperative that we build a green school, primarily for health reasons. I suffer from mild asthma and I would like my son to escape my fate. Green schools have cleaner air, and many studies have shown that poor air quality leads to greater occurrences of asthma. And of course, green buildings use less energy for heating and cooling, and thus are better for the environment (and the taxpayer!). In these times of environmental crisis, I would love to see my son in a L.E.E.D. certified high school learning how to take better care of the earth. What an incredible lesson for our children! Thank you, Fen Labalme My letter to the school board follows:

Hello -

My family and I recently moved to Mt Lebanon from San Francisco, California for three primary reasons: great public schools, affordable (certainly compared to California!) real estate, and proximity to a city with major colleges and culture. During our almost two years of research to determine where in the country was the best place to move - summed up on my blog http://blog.fen.net/2007/04/30/dreams-become-reality - the fact that Pittsburgh was leading the country in the number of L.E.E.D. certified buildings also played a key role in making our decision.

While I strongly urge L.E.E.D. certification for our new high school - as I think it will provide a great boost to Mt Lebanon as a visionary leader - I find it imperative that we build a green school, primarily for health reasons. I suffer from mild asthma and I would like my son to escape my fate. Green schools have cleaner air, and many studies have shown that poor air quality leads to greater occurrences of asthma. And of course, green buildings use less energy for heating and cooling, and thus are better for the environment (and the taxpayer!).

In these times of environmental crisis, I would love to see my son in a L.E.E.D. certified high school learning how to take better care of the earth. What an incredible lesson for our children!

Thank you,
Fen Labalme

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