A couple months ago, fellow Let’s Talk Green blogger, Katie Cullipher, and I had the great honor of donning hard hats for a tour of the new Kellam High School facility set to open this January. To say that we were impressed would be an understatement. As part of the Virginia Beach City Schools Sustainable Schools program, the facility is designed to provide the best learning environment with the least impact on the local environment. It is the 8th LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building constructed by Virginia Beach Public Schools since 2005.
An aerial view of Kellam High School.
There were so many environmentally-friendly designs and features incorporated into the construction of Kellam High School. Some of the features that we were totally excited about include:
- Rainwater harvesting to reduce stormwater runoff and a source of water for irrigating sports fields
- On-site treatment of stormwater for a reduced impact on the municipal stormwater system
- A vegetable/herb garden attached to the culinary arts classroom and kitchen facility
- Green roofs with special vegetation that will help cool the building and reduce stormwater by absorbing rainfall
- Use of site-reclaimed wood for benches in the courtyard
- Recycled content/materials used throughout
- Cool roof to minimize solar warming and decrease cooling costs
- Low flow fixtures throughout to conserve water
- HVAC system with geothermal wells for efficient heating
- Light pollution reduction to help preserve the starry night sky
- Daylight harvesting to light up classrooms without a need for artificial light
That’s an impressive list, right? I think one of my favorite features was the use of site-reclaimed wood for benches in the courtyard. How thoughtful! Incorporating the resources of the site into the new design is such a neat way to show respect for the land you are building upon. Another favorite feature of mine was the concept of daylight harvesting. This was a new concept to me, but it makes so much sense! Many of the classrooms won’t need to turn on overhead lights because the room’s design, combined with the use of special glass, reflects natural light into the room in the most efficient way. What a great way to cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and connect students with nature.
Kellam High School is just one of the eight environmentally-friendly buildings constructed by Virginia Beach City Schools. We hope everyone gets an opportunity to be inspired by one of these facilities just like we were after our tour of Kellam High School.
Learn more about the Sustainable Schools program from Virginia Beach City Schools.
Enjoy these pictures from our tour!
This infiltration garden allows water to filter through the soil instead of running off into the municipal stormwater system.
These green roofs will absorb rainfall and reduce stormwater runoff.
The vegetable garden will provide vegetables for use by the culinary arts students.
A cistern collects rainwater for reuse as irrigation on the sports fields.