While on the topic of green schools, Ontario is to be home to the greenest school in the nation. Named after one of the most famed environmental scientists, who for the first time, lends his name to an elementary educational structure, the Dr. David Suzuki Public School will be the most environmentally friendly school building in Canada.
Scheduled for opening this September, it will replace the Princess Anne Public School located near Windsor, Ontario. Funding has come from the Government of Ontario, in partnership with the Greater Essex County District School Board, to create the unique, certified LEED Platinum facility that will no doubt impact school designs well into the future.
Suzuki revealed in a news release that he lived in Essex County for a short time during his childhood. “I am honored to have my name attributed to a school that is being designed with the environment uppermost in mind,” he said. Just how is the school putting the environment first? In many innovative ways and with proven technologies.
The School will feature a wind turbine and solar panels for energy efficient power. It will be surrounded with a natural landscape and will sport a green roof. Inside as well, green reigns supreme, with a ‘living wall’ made up of plants that naturally purify the air.
The school also intends to capture rainwater, recycle grey water, and have its own mini-sewer treatment plant in its basement. Geothermal heating will also be used to heat and cool the building.
When the 500 or so students of Dr. David Suzuki Public School walk through the front doors, it may feel more like a virtual journey to the distant future. As the school board’s slogan states, “Building Tomorrow Today” includes constructing greener schools as part of preserving the planet so that ‘distant future’ is there when the pupils of today are the adults of tomorrow.
Photo Source: Mclean + Associates Architects
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I can hear the jokes already. “Funny how the cleanest school in Ontario is in the dirtiest city.” Har har.
Good for Windsor.
That’s great! Hope more schools will follow suit.
It looks like it’s going to be an amazing institution for learning. Hopefully it will inspire students to encourage others to make green choices as well.
If you want to know anything about the school email my my father is working on the project tyler_pick93 [@] hotmail.com
awesome !!!
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