District Administration - January 2012 - (Page 86)

productfocus • • Courtney Williams A GUIDE TO ONE SEGMENT OF EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY Sustainable Products Help Schools Save Money and Conserve Energy Since the U.S. Green Building Council launched LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Schools certiﬁcation in 2007, building sustainable, eco-friendly facilities has become the norm for new construction and is statewide policy in 13 states. However, there is still much to be done with the approximately 99,000 existing public schools across the United States. According to “A National Action Plan for Greening America’s Schools” (Sundance, 2011), on average, green schools save $100,000 per year on operating costs. Over 10 years, America’s schools could save $20 billion. According to the Green Schools Initiative, green schools strive to be toxic-free; to use resources sustainably; to create green, healthy spaces; and to teach students and staﬀ about MARATHON environmental education. Many of the products listed here may help districts retroﬁt their EQUIPMENT buildings to become more environmentally friendly and cut costs on energy. GreenBuilt Solar Vert-I-Pack, starting at $18,000 HYDROTECH Extensive Garden Roof, contact Hydrotech for pricing Hydrotech’s Extensive Garden Roof is a cost-effective, ecofriendly and lightweight covering. The garden roof, made up of herbs, grasses and other vegetation that can endure harsh growing conditions, provides storm water management by retaining 50 to 90 percent of rainfall on the roof and improves energy efﬁciency by enhancing insulation of the building. This garden roof does not require any regular maintenance and can be installed on just about any existing ﬂat or sloped roof. Hydrotech The GreenBuilt Solar Vert-IPack is a solar-powered waste compactor with performance comparable to standard units. It can be placed anywhere there is regular sunlight, since it’s off the grid and features eco-friendly biodegradable hydraulic ﬂuid. Schools also have the option to choose a hybrid model, which can connect to the power grid as a backup. These units may help schools qualify for grants and funding from state or federal sustainability programs. LUTRON Energi TriPak, contact Lutron for pricing Lutron’s Energi TriPak manages light levels in the classroom as activities change throughout the day and dims or turns off the lights when they are not in use. Beyond saving energy, situation-speciﬁc lighting provided by Energi TriPak ensures that students can view a projected image, watch video presentations, and participate in classroom instruction with the best light quality. The Energi TriPak includes three components: a Pico wireless control, a PowPak dimming module that responds to wireless sensors and controls provided by the Radio Powr Savr sensor. PITSCO EDUCATION Green STEM Academy: Student-Directed, contact Pitsco Education for pricing Sustainability is moving into the classroom with Pitsco Education’s Green STEM Academy. This student-directed curriculum includes 10 standards-based topics for middle school students, including carbon footprint, changing oceans, eco-architecture and sustainable agriculture. Each lesson is hands-on and engaging for students. A teacher-led curriculum is also available. 86 January 2012 District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - January 2012

District Administration - January 2012
Contents
Letters
News Update
Conversations
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Finding the Perfect Fit
Kansas City Plots Next Steps
Seeking Savings in Special Ed
K12 Guide to Audio/Visual Solutions
Equipping Teachers to Infuse Technology
Flipped Classrooms Gaining Ground
Buying in Bulk
Online Identity Management
Going Mobile
Student Counsel
Online Edge
New Books
New Products
Product Focus
Professional Opinion

District Administration - January 2012