Charlotte County, Florida
Client:
Charlotte County Public Schools
RS&H
Role/Responsibility:
Architect and Engineer
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Project
Description:
Charlotte County Public Schools has a
commitment to sustainable design and for
their facilities to not only enhance
educational opportunities for students, but
also exhibit community leadership as good
stewards of public funds and natural
resources. RS&H’s prototype design helped
Charlotte County Public Schools earn LEED
Certification for Neil Armstrong Elementary,
the first elementary school in the U.S.
Green Building Council's
Florida/Caribbean Region, and earn LEED
Silver Rating Peace River and East
Elementary Schools. Some design elements
included:
- Use of native, water-efficient
landscaping, including some palm trees that
were salvaged from the original landscaping,
and low-flow plumbing fixtures were included
to reduce water consumption. These
elements decreased the amount of potable
water used by 42 percent.
- Energy efficient light fixtures take
advantage of the use of natural sunlight, as
well as motion detectors prevent unnecessary
lights left on, as well as energy-efficient
chillers were installed to optimize HVAC
performance. In total, these elements
are producing an energy savings of 21.5
percent and cost savings of 24.7 percent,
which translates into an approximate savings
of $50,000 per year.
- Utilizing enhanced ventilation systems
to maximize the use of outdoor fresh air,
and use of extensive filtration systems for
managing indoor air quality were developed
to ensure the building stays healthy. In
addition, the building’s interior design
includes Forest Stewardship Council-certified
wood fixtures, as well as low emission
paints, carpeting, and adhesives to reduce
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions,
dust and airborne fibers. The indoor
ventilation systems and low VOC materials
decrease adverse health effects, which leads
to less class time missed by students and
teachers, as well as increases student
concentration and academic performance.
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