Blatant homerism Pt. 3

It was interesting a couple of years ago when a group of parents started activating for a new high school. The way things have gone lately, they may not have gained the victory they did.

Commissioners Approve Recommendation To Seek LEED Certification for High School
Story by Kathleen McFadden

At their regular meeting Monday morning, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation from the high school subcommittee to seek LEED certification for the new Watauga County High School. Commissioners John Cooper and Winston Kinsey were not present at the meeting, but Jim Deal, Billy Ralph Winkler and Mary Moretz voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a green building rating system—the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

LEED certification requires independent, third-party verification that a building meets the highest green building and performance measures and promotes a whole-building approach by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

According to information from the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification offers a number of environmental and financial benefits:

• Lowers operating costs and increases asset value

• Reduces waste sent to landfills

• Conserves energy and water

• Provides a healthier and safer environment

• Reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions

• Qualifies for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities

Since the commissioners decided to construct a new school rather than try to renovate the existing facility, they have consistently voiced their intention to incorporate as many energy-saving and sustainable features into the school as possible.

At Monday’s meeting, County Manager Rocky Nelson mentioned several of those features: daylighting, rainwater capture and reuse, high-efficiency lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, computerized control systems and environmentally friendly materials.

LEED offers four certification levels: certified (the minimum level), silver, gold and platinum. Project architect Jennifer Sisak has proposed obtaining silver level certification for the new school.

Cost is involved, not only for the application fee and inspection, but also for the architect’s services in overseeing the process. The estimated cost to the county for the certification is $50,000 to $65,000, an amount that does not include engineering fees. However, the board of commissioners has approached LEED-certified faculty at Appalachian State University to provide those engineering services at no charge in exchange for permitting their students to participate in the process and obtain hands-on experience with the certification process.

“I personally believe LEED-certified facilities will be eligible for grants that non-LEED buildings won’t,” said Board Chair Jim Deal. “There is some cost up front, but the potential long-term savings are far greater. If we get LEED certification, we will be the only [such certified school] in this corner of the state.”

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