I have always and will continue to maintain that education and knowledge is where the power lies to effect change at every level. When that type of education leads to knowledge about going ‘green’, it is a force that cannot be reckoned with. And that is exactly what is happening to a school in Northeastern Wisconsin.
The official title of this school is called The Fox River Academy Environmental Charter School, and every school out in the land would do well to take a lesson from them.
In a nutshell, the Fox River Academy was growing and needed an expansion plan. They found a building located in a local park that was adjacent to the regular elementary school. At first, it was thought of as merely additional classroom space, but then the board came up with a brilliant idea.
They decided to turn this building ‘green’ using construction techniques, and reusable source materials. However, it didn’t stop there. They will add in a geothermal heating system, they’ll install a solar chimney for natural ventilation and they’ll be using low-flow water devices for faucets. Low-flow toilets have already been installed, and they plan to put in waterless urinals too! You want more? How about putting in place renewable power sources like wind and solar power, then implementing solar light concentrators with attached fiber optics to direct the light, and of course, CFLs and LED electric lights.
The outside and garden area is seeded with natural Wisconsin native plants, and rain water has been diverted from the roof to rain barrels for watering, using as little or no regular piped in water for this task. But perhaps the best part is this: the school itself integrated it into part of the curriculum, all the while the students will be learning about the whys and ways of this incredible ‘green’ building with hands-on experience, exactly as it should be.
The changes are coming and education is the key, as this building proves. Kudos and hats off to the Fox River Academy’s Governance Board for approving this idea. And although it is safe to say that the environment will most certainly benefit from this shining example as well as anyone else who cares to learn about eco-friendly construction, the real winners here are the kids themselves.
Source: BecauseAction.com
