National review of green schools: costs, benefits and implications for
Massachusetts
http://www.chps.net/info/KatsReport.MASchools.Dec2005.pdf
This report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative which
is working in partnership with the Massachusetts Education Department on the
Green Schools Initiative. These schools aim to provide cost-effective
facilities that conserve energy and use renewable resources, as well as
providing healthy learning environments. The research analysed data from 30
green schools and mapped these onto Massachusetts’s specific costs and
characteristics including those for energy.
Key findings from the report:
Green schools were found to cost between 1.5% and 2.5% more to build than
conventional schools but according to the study they would provide significant
long term financial benefits.
The benefits of green schools were energy and water savings, reduction in costs
associated with waste and emissions, and reduced cases of student asthma and
other illnesses.
The study showed that the average green school can reduce energy use by
one-third compared with conventional school buildings.
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Justin Dillon
Director, PGCE Science & Overseas Programmes and Secretary, European Science
Education Research Association (ESERA)
Department of Education and Professional Studies
King's College London
Waterloo Bridge Wing, Franklin-Wilkins Building
Waterloo Road
London SE1 9NH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7848 3096; Mobile +44 7785 330536; Fax: +44 20 7848 3182
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