Better-built schools can produce better-performing students. It's one of the aims of new guidelines unveiled by the state's education, environmental and energy chiefs for building "green" schools.

That's "green" as in energy-efficient, healthy, safe and high-quality learning environments. The East Hampton school district on eastern Long island is the first in the state to take part in the program (see related article).

The new voluntary guidelines are designed to help districts build and maintain schools that reduce operating costs, and protect and conserve natural resources.

Much emphasis is on high efficiency and correctly sized heating and cooling equipment, as well as day-lighting and maintenance.

There's a big bonus, too. A "green" learning environment can contribute to improved academic achievement: fewer sick students, fewer sick faculty and better student performance.

In "green" schools, children can learn about and participate in conservation first-hand.

Students will be "stewards for home and community," said Paul Tonko, who heads the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

"We're allowing students to learn and to teach in very significant ways simply by what they're surrounded with," he said.

The new guidelines, dubbed Collaborative for High Performance Schools, stress that job one is to improve the learning environment.

Classrooms must be comfortable, with no visual, audible or thermal conditions that could inhibit learning — no glare, background noise, poor air quality or noisy ventilation systems.

Air intakes must be located away from schoolbus pick-up and drop-off locations and other possible sources of contamination.

Emphasis is placed on keeping water out of the building to prevent the growth of mold.

"Schools and teachers get a better learning environment, districts save money and we all benefit from a cleaner environment," said state Education Commissioner Richard Mills.

New school buildings following the guidelines must include technologies and building materials that outlast the bonds that pay for them (typically up to 30 years.)

"We applaud the attention the state is paying to designing healthy schools for students and staff," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue.

Ambtious plans

The improvements at East Hampton, where construction is due to begin in the spring, will feature:

• Deciduous trees in parking lots to reduce "heat island" effects;

• Improved air distribution;

• Drought-tolerant plantings;

• Low-consumption plumbing fixtures;

• Radiant floor heat; and

• More windows for natural light.

Traditional state building aid can be used to help fund construction and renovation of "green schools."

A school district that implements the guidelines in a building or removation project will reduce its energy consumption and shrink its carbon footprint, Tonko said.

Adherence to the guidelines, he said, will also help New York state reach Gov. Spitzer's goal of decreasing statewide power consumption 15 percent by 2015.

"Buildings matter," said Alexander "Pete" Grannis, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Speaking at the late September news conference at which the guidelines were announced, Grannis noted that one-third of today's greenhouse emissions come from buildings.

"It's a monumental problem," he said. "It's more than glaciers and stranded polar bears. It's about neighborhoods."

— Liza Frenette