Stevenson: First LEED-EB Gold Certified Public School in the U.S.
In 2011, Stevenson High School became the first public high school in the country to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® gold-level certification for existing buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED is a certification program that is the national benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Stevenson received gold certification by earning enough points in the LEED rating system that measures several areas, including water and energy use and conservation; indoor air quality; management of waste and recyclable materials; the use of environmentally preferred products and practices for cleaning and alterations; and sustainable purchasing policies. Gold certification is the second-highest level in the four-tiered LEED ratings system.
Read more ...
About the Green Committee
Stevenson's Green Committee was created during the 2007-08 school year as part of a District 125 initiative to reduce the school's carbon footprint. Since then, Stevenson has made significant progress in its efforts to serve as good stewards of its resources, and reduce its negative impact on the environment. Some of the more notable efforts include:
Annual carbon footprint studies to determine the amount of greenhouse gases Stevenson emits, where the emissions come from, and areas in which emissions can be reduced.
Improved recycling management, including the installation of a second compacter for more efficient sorting of recyclables and "black waste," plus a color-coordinated trash and recycling bin system throughout the campus.
Smarter purchasing decisions, such as an end to the use of Styrofoam (plates, cups, etc.) in the cafeterias and using recycled paper products, as well as moving away from personal printers to multi-function copiers/printers shared by departments.
Conforming to the most eco-friendly building standards by replacing 40-year-old boilers, chillers and hot water heaters in the West Building with more efficient systems.
Installing green roofs over sections of the East Building and Cardio Fitness Center, with explansion plans where feasible and appropriate.
Replacing carpet rolls with tiles made from recycled carpets, which are easily replaced when worn or stained.
