Deanna Harms
Greteman Group
316.263.1004, ext. 111
dharms@gretemangroup.com
Vera Novak
ECO-Block, LLC
Environmental Specialist
801.292.2424
v.novak@eco-block.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ECO-Block ICFs take elementary school to the head of the class
Hanover, Penn. - Pennsylvania's first LEED-registered school building
is helping students earn high marks while parents reap the benefits
of its low utility costs.
Clearview Elementary School in Hanover, Penn., was built to compete.
Now, in its first month of operation, Clearview is not your traditional
wood-framed school. It was constructed with ECO-Block insulating concrete
forms (ICFs). John Boecker, the lead architect on the project and founding
chair of the AIA Pennsylvania Committee on the Environment, used ECO-Block
as a key strategy in putting this high-performance facility to the test.
His team designed Clearview to achieve U.S. Green Building Council (GBC)
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.
Clearview was also one of five buildings selected nationwide to represent
the U.S. team at the 2002 GBC Sustainable Buildings Conference held
last fall in Oslo, Norway.
LEED distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment
to sustainable site issues, water savings, energy efficiency, materials
selection and indoor environmental quality. The level of LEED certification
a project receives depends on the number of credits earned for various
criteria.
"From the beginning, we aimed to achieve LEED Silver Level Certification,"
said Boecker, a LEED-accredited architect with L. Robert Kimball &
Associates, Harrisburg, Penn. "Now it appears that we have a chance
to obtain gold. We set out for Clearview to be a place where students
thrive and parents and taxpayers get the most for their money, both
up front and over the life of the building. ECO-Block was a powerful
component for garnering these results."
The ECO-Block ICF system is just one of the resources Boecker utilized
to achieve the best possible LEED rating. Under-floor plenums for ventilation
provide fresh air to keep students and teachers alert, healthy, and
focused on learning. Thermal windows with daylighting strategies offer
more than three times more natural illumination than conventional classrooms
and help cut energy consumption in half. These strategies have also
been shown to significantly augment student performance. A recent study
by the California Board for Energy Efficiency showed that the learning
rates for elementary students in classrooms with daylight increased
20% to 26% as measured by math and reading test scores when compared
to student performance in non-daylighted classrooms.
"Since opening in December, I've noticed that students and staff
are better at focusing on learning rather than the environment,"
said Josephine Bookwalter, Clearview Elementary principal. "They're
not distracted with cold temperatures, squinting to see the board and
other daily stresses. Our utility bills are benefiting, too."
Building with ICFs has multiple advantages to owners and the environment
as it consistently saves in time, money and energy resources. On the
Clearview project alone, approximately 40% of the building materials
were locally manufactured, reducing time and costs from having materials
transported from far distances. Also, about 75% by cost were manufactured
with a high-recycled content. It all adds up to an energy-efficient
building projected to save $34,000 in annual energy costs.
"As a mom, it's comforting to know that our kids have an enriching
learning environment," said Dana Yealy, Clearview PTO President.
"And as a taxpayer, it's encouraging to know that the money saved
on utilities can go towards other important resources. The fact that
this building saved trees is an environmental bonus."
Concrete offers a number of benefits as a building material. In addition
to being inert and non-toxic, the costs of a concrete building is comparable
to one built with wood. Experienced crews report that building with
ICFs can take less time than using wood-frame construction. It eliminates
several steps - such as sheathing and insulating the exterior walls
- that are necessary with wood-frame construction. The use of concrete
also helps ensure durability.
Just as the LEED Certification and the Green Building Challenge evaluated
the energy and environmental performance of Clearview, a local university
will conduct student-led research in about a year to begin keeping a
report card on the school's performance.
ECO-Block LLC is one of the world's most innovative and experienced
providers of insulating concrete form (ICF) technology. The Florida-based
company manufactures and supplies the most versatile and technologically
advanced ICF systems available for both commercial and residential construction.
Use of ECO-Block's ICF technology creates super-insulated, monolithic
concrete walls that save energy, keep noise out and improve air quality.
Building owners can enjoy energy savings of 30-50% a year. Greater fire,
wind and weather resistance also help make ECO-Block homes more durable
and secure than those using conventional construction methods. The use
of renewable resources in ECO-Block ICF systems reduces reliance on
wood products, helping protect our threatened forests. ICF technology
is rapidly integrating into mainstream commercial and residential construction.
In 1998, 20,000 new homes benefited from ICFs. Industry projections
for 2003 estimate that approximately 100,000 homes will take advantage
of ICF technology.
To learn more about the school and see photos of the school's opening,
visit:
http://www.hpsd.k12.pa.us/clearview/opening/index.htm
http://www.hpsd.k12.pa.us/clearview/new_building/newbuilding.htm