Commissioners OK ‘green’ high school construction method
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Watauga County is taking the “LEED” in building a new energy-efficient school, pursuing what could be the first high school facility in the state that is certified as “green.”

During Monday’s meeting, the county commissioners unanimously approved pursuing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

LEED is a certified rating for structures judged on a “whole-building approach to sustainability” based on site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

A subcommittee overseeing recommendations for the new high school under construction in the Perkinsville area had endorsed the designation and it has been discussed since early in the planning process.

However, concern about extra engineering costs had kept the discussion on the back burner, but collaborative planning with Appalachian State University’s technology department brought forth ideas that made certification more reachable.

The commissioners approved the pursuit of the designation, which would cost between $50,000 and $65,000.

Engineering fees may be charged by LEED inspectors, but the commissioners believe ASU staff will provide most of the engineering and the county would recoup its investment through later operational savings.

Commission chairman Jim Deal said it would be collaborative project, with ASU instructors using the project as a demonstration model. Participating students would earn credit and gain experience in “green” building, engineering and certifying procedures.

LEED was developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council, setting a series of ratings that must be met to achieve the certification. While credentials for commercial buildings and homes are already in use, the “LEED for Schools” designation was formally adopted in April, which would likely make the new high school the first in North Carolina to be built according to those guidelines.

The county could pursue a “Silver LEEDS” certification, one of four different levels granted through achieving performance benchmarks. Among the green techniques discussed for the school are the strategic placement of windows for daytime interior lighting, capturing and reusing rainwater, and a geothermal collection system that would use underground pipes for heating and cooling.

Commissioner Mary Moretz said while the county would face additional costs up front, the techniques would result in long-term savings, particularly given the collaboration with ASU.

Commissioner Billy Ralph Winkler said when the commissioners had discussed the certification early in the planning process, the additional cost had seemed too great. Having seen the current estimates and ASU’s potential participation, he supported the proposal.

Any construction change orders would have to come to the commissioners for approval, so the certification review could be dropped at any time if any line item was deemed too expensive. Some of the cost would be for the architectural firm’s changes in building design.

The U.S. Green Building Council says LEED-certified schools are healthier for students and teachers, better for the environment and cost less to operate and maintain. Benefits include lower energy costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, less solid waste produced and the possibility of future economic incentives.

Deal said given the changing energy landscape and rising energy costs, certified schools might be in a better position to get grants and other funding opportunities in the future.

A 92,000-square-foot elementary school in Statesville was certified as “LEED Gold” in 2002, though it was built under commercial certification standards and not the newly established standards for schools. Computer models suggest the school’s annual energy costs are 25 percent lower due to green building techniques, and waterless urinals and low-flow plumbing fixtures cut the water use by 30 percent.

Supporters say green schools have better teacher retention rates, save enough money to fund additional teachers and supplies, and provide a positive environment that can help boost academic performance.

The commissioners also got good news on a change order for the high school, with contracting team Barnhill/Vannoy proposing to use a larger pipe diameter for the detention system, which would save excavation and labor. The total savings will be $232,000. The new school is expected to open in 2010.