Green Schools Initiative
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Download the Green Schools Post Occupancy Study >> |
The draft Criteria for MA-CHPS 2009 are now available for public review. Comments are due no later than 8am EST on Monday, November 16, 2009. Comments should be sent to greenschools@masstech.org. FAQs about the document and the review period are here. |
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Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School was verified as green school under MA-CHPS in 2005 and has a 32.5 kW PV system. This photo shows how skylights are used to flood the main hallway with daylight. |
The Green Schools Initiative (GSI) is an initiative formerly offered by MRET, in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, to assist new schools with green design and the installation of renewable energy systems. The GSI is nearing the end of a very successful 8-year run. Begun in 2001, the GSI provided funding to 45 public schools during its Pilot Phase, resulting in 20 schools that became “certified” as green schools and total installation of 580 kW of photovoltaic (PV) and 11.4 kW of wind electricity capacity. MRET is wrapping up Phase II now and, by the end, will have awarded funding to 18 schools for green design and to 11 schools for the installation of 356 kW total of PV capacity. For information on these grantees, please see the links at right.
MRET also launched the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS) guidelines for green schools, which is one of the first green school rating systems available in the country. Under MA-CHPS version 1.0, schools that are new or significantly renovated can seek “verification” as a green school by complying with 29 prerequisites and earning at least 31 out of 89 points. MRET is currently working with the national Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) to update the guidelines and transition the administration of the verification process and all intellectual property related to MA-CHPS to CHPS. The update and transition are expected to be complete by the end of calendar year 2009.
Frequently asked questions about the end of the GSI are available here.
For more information on the Green Schools Initiative, contact:
Elisabeth Krautscheid
Project Manager
508-870-0312 x223
krautscheid@masstech.org