Durham School Leads State In Green Building
W.G. Pearson Elementary school is going green, and environmental leaders are taking notice.
Recently, the school was recognized for its “leadership in energy and environmental design,” or LEED. It is the first school rated as a leader for LEED in the Triangle, and the second elementary school in the state to earn the rating that school officials say distinguishes a “high-performance building,” according to Durham Publci Schools.
“It means that we are an environmentally friendly building to all the people that are here, the students, the staff, and the land that we’re on,” said principal Sandy Chambers.
The school’s LEED rating means Pearson’s design is now certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Officials say the two-story, 82,000 square-foot building offers bike racks as a healthy alternative to vehicles. The school also boasts green construction materials, many of which were locally made, which officials say improves the school’s air quality,.
“It teaches them that we’re environmentally conscious, and we’re trying to save our planet,” Chambers said. “We’re making big efforts into doing that and with buildings that we have. That’s a major step in that direction.”
Durham Public Schools Superintendent Carl Harris agreed, saying, “Not only is this an indication of our doing our best to conserved, but it also is a tangible example for our students of what can be done to protect the environment.”
Chambers said the unique certification makes students “…aware that we can start saving the world on a bigger scale.”
