Ohio Wants Schools to be LEED Certified

Columbus, OH September 28, 2007--Hundreds of new and renovated schools are set to meet higher energy efficiency and environmental standards, according to the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

At its meeting today, the commission adopted the LEED for Schools Rating System as part of its school design standards. Created by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a widely used benchmark for the design and construction of energy efficient and environmentally conscious buildings.

To qualify for the LEED for Schools designation, individual buildings must meet specifications for land use, water and energy efficiency, construction materials, and indoor air quality. LEED serves as a design guideline for green buildings and offers third party validation of a building’s green features. 

With $4.1 billion targeted for school facilities under the state's tobacco securitization plan, more than 250 buildings will be registering for LEED Silver Certification within the next two years.

“The LEED criteria have been shown to have a positive effect on student health, attendance, and performance," said OSFC Executive Director Michael C. Shoemaker. " While the state is sharing in the cost of the upfront construction, the benefits – including energy savings – accrue directly to the school districts participating in our programs.”

LEED certification has four progressive levels – Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  The level of certification depends on the number of criteria that are met during the design and construction of a building. Under the green schools initiative, all future OSFC-funded buildings will be encouraged to meet Gold certification.