Ecofriendly Classroom Features: Lighting, Ventilation and Climate Control
Ecofriendly Classroom Features:
Lighting, Ventilation and
Climate Control
Ecofriendly classroom features include daylighting, high air quality, temperature control, and smart automation. Automating these features ensures that classroom occupants can focus on their learning while being as environmentally friendly as possible.
The larger task of education is to help expand our sense of ecological and human possibilities.... It is possible to construct buildings that promote ecological imagination and help to develop ecological competence.
— David Orr
BASELINE CRITERIA FOR ENSURING ECOFRIENDLY CLASSROOM FEATURES 1. Lighting: * install light level sensors and electronic light monitors that collect and distribute natural light * install devices to control light reflecting, shading and blocking * install the best possible ecofriendly light fixtures: task-oriented, student-specific and teacher-specific, adjustable according to daylight and glare * install operable, thermally efficient windows appropriate to solar orientation (consider reglazing if window replacement is too costly) * on south-facing classroom windows, consider the use of light shelves and/or solar shading with automatic perimeter lighting to extend daylight into the classroom and to save electricity 2. Ventilation and air quality: * appropriate ventilation that: * reduces outside noise * takes into account the maximum number of students using the classroom * ensure constant flow of fresh air when classroom is occupied (some buildings use raised floors fitted with vents) * plants in each classroom, for air quality improvement, humidification, and reduction in energy use * quiet ceiling fans, windows that open (to save AC/air conditioning energy) 3. Climate and Temperature (consider staff offices, too): * energy efficient heating and cooling systems * design with solar orientation in mind to
Lighting, Ventilation and
Climate Control
Ecofriendly classroom features include daylighting, high air quality, temperature control, and smart automation. Automating these features ensures that classroom occupants can focus on their learning while being as environmentally friendly as possible.
The larger task of education is to help expand our sense of ecological and human possibilities.... It is possible to construct buildings that promote ecological imagination and help to develop ecological competence.
— David Orr
BASELINE CRITERIA FOR ENSURING ECOFRIENDLY CLASSROOM FEATURES 1. Lighting: * install light level sensors and electronic light monitors that collect and distribute natural light * install devices to control light reflecting, shading and blocking * install the best possible ecofriendly light fixtures: task-oriented, student-specific and teacher-specific, adjustable according to daylight and glare * install operable, thermally efficient windows appropriate to solar orientation (consider reglazing if window replacement is too costly) * on south-facing classroom windows, consider the use of light shelves and/or solar shading with automatic perimeter lighting to extend daylight into the classroom and to save electricity 2. Ventilation and air quality: * appropriate ventilation that: * reduces outside noise * takes into account the maximum number of students using the classroom * ensure constant flow of fresh air when classroom is occupied (some buildings use raised floors fitted with vents) * plants in each classroom, for air quality improvement, humidification, and reduction in energy use * quiet ceiling fans, windows that open (to save AC/air conditioning energy) 3. Climate and Temperature (consider staff offices, too): * energy efficient heating and cooling systems * design with solar orientation in mind to