S. Green, 2008). Integrated
into the buildings are green features that are highlighted in order to
display those features to visitors, teachers and students. Those features
include window walls, color-coded heating and water pipes.
Asthetic features were also taken into account when creating the plans
for the project and have held through upon completion. The site has been
xeriscaped with native plants on a lot size of 90 acres that was previously
undeveloped. The buildings are a mixture of brick, stone and glass with
half of the products used in the buildings manufactured within 500 miles of
the facility.
Some of the 'green' products used in the buildings include low-
emissivity interior paint, manufacturing-scrap ceramic tile, recycled-
content acoustical ceiling panels and recycled-content commercial carpet
tile. At the end of its usage, the carpet is completely recyclable.
Some of the other 'green' strategies used on the project include
clustering the buildings to preserve and protect both the habitat and open
space surrounding the buildings, and landscaping with indigenous
vegetation. Using less water in the project was accomplished by installing
low-flow toilets and collecting and storing rainwater to irrigate the
landscape. Plants were selected for the project based on their drought
tolerance, and the irrigation systems were chosen for water-efficiency.
Many of the measures implemented in this green project have saved the
school district thousands of dollars. According to the article, In its
first three years the school was expected to save $11, 500 annually from
reduced water use, and actual savings during those three years was $27,
850.
Some of the lessons learned with the completion of this project
include the fact that embedded environmental responses in new construction
can lower the...
The asthetic
value of the building was enhanced rather than denigrated by including the
indigenous plants that were also drought resistant. Water usage was down
sharply and visitors, students and teachers were all offered the
opportunity to learn how these implementations assisted the
school system
in saving money.
Integrating green features such as the ones integrated in this project
allows for savings and more efficient usage of both resources and
buildings. If all new construction would take these features into account
a more energy efficient society would arise allowing for a higher standard
of living.
This could be accomplished by applying resources in other areas that
have been diverted away from projects such as these.
Fossil Ridge
High School was completed on time and on
budget, and with
its display of
environmental responsibility has proven to be a project at
the forefront of efficient use of resources in an educational surrounding.
References
Fcgov.com, (2008) Doing
business in Fort Collins, http://www.ci.fort-
collins.co.us/business/, accessed May 23, 2008
U.S. Green Building Council, (2008),
http://leedcasestudies.usgbc.org/process.cfm?ProjectID=672, accessed
May 23, 2008
