December 2009 Newsletter
COMMUNITY GARDEN features in Addison Green!
DISCUSSION COURSES - NEW COURSE starts in January!
The Fall Discussion Group has been very successful with 12 members discussing the book “Choices for Sustainable Living”. The session will end with a dinner discussion at Renee Rossi’s home! To read about and sign up for the January course, click here.
TWO NEW SUB-COMMITTEES for Campus Recycling and Carpooling
Volunteers are needed to help study campus recycling and carpooling and make recommendations. If interested please contact Ann Drumm at anndrumm@swbell.net.
LEED for Existing Buildings (Operations & Maintenance) project update
Lower School Building and Upper School Addition
The Greenhill School board approved the LEED project in May 2009 and soon after a GHS-HPS Steering committee* was formed to get the project underway. This committee meets once a month to discuss issues and monitor progress of the project. One of the most important aspects of LEED is energy efficiency and the first module that the team decided to target is Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices. In order to do so, Building Solutions has partnered with AET to perform Commissioning. The intent of commissioning is “through a systematic process to develop an understanding of the operation of the building’s major energy-using systems, options for optimizing energy performance and a plan to achieve energy savings”. Commissioning can have a major impact on the Greenhill community and its everyday activities. For example, heating and cooling preventive maintenance analysis such as duct pressure and controls in equipment can lead to better airflow. Better airflow and heat gain/loss management can lead to balanced student/teacher health and productivity. Relative humidity testing can result in optimum body comfort for all. Lighting levels testing can enhance lighting quality in classrooms. Other important benefits include resource conservation/pollution reduction, energy savings, cost savings and improved preventive maintenance policies and practices.
*GHS-HPS (Greenhill School -High Performance Schools) Steering committee:
Melissa Orth (CFO, Greenhill School), Bruce Thompson (Director of Buildings and Grounds), Building Solutions (LEED consultants for the project), Ann Drumm (Green Team Chair), Manju Menon and Anita Gupta (Green Team representatives), Carolyn Cantrell (parent volunteer)
For more information and questions, please contact Manju Menon at menon41@tx.rr.com or Anita Gupta at sanjayanita@hotmail.com
