Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning

165 Pages·2007·1.01 MB·English

by  National Resea, Committee to Review and Assess the Health and Productivity Benefits of Green Schools

Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning

Committee to Review and Assess the Health and

Productivity Benefits of Green Schools, National

Research Council

ISBN: 0-309-66621-X, 208 pages, 6 x 9, (2006)

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Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning
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Green Schools: Attributes for
Health and Learning

Committee to Review and Assess the Health and Productivity Benefits of Green Schools
Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
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Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of
the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The
members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences
and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by a Master Services Agreement between the National Academy of
Sciences and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (awarded November 2004); Grant
1906 between the Barr Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences (awarded September
2004); and funding from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (awarded April 2005), the Kendall
Foundation (awarded March 2005), and the U.S. Green Building Council (awarded February
2005). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies
that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number 0-309-

Copies of this report are available from the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed
Environment, National Research Council, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 943, Washington, DC
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Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth
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Copyright 2006 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of
distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate
that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr.
Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the
National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is
autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the
National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The
National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting
national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements
of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to
secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of
policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the
responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be
an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of
medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of
Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in
1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s
purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in
accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the
principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both
Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are
chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org
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COMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND ASSESS THE HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY
BENEFITS OF GREEN SCHOOLS

JOHN D. SPENGLER, Harvard University, Chair
VIVIAN E. LOFTNESS, Carnegie Mellon University, Vice Chair
CHARLENE W. BAYER, Georgia Institute of Technology
JOHN S. BRADLEY, National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada
GLEN I. EARTHMAN, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
PEYTON A. EGGLESTON, Johns Hopkins University
PAUL FISETTE, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
CAROLINE BREESE HALL, University of Rochester
GARY T. HENRY, Georgia State University
CLIFFORD S. MITCHELL, Johns Hopkins University
MARK S. REA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
HENRY SANOFF, North Carolina State University
CAROL H. WEISS, Harvard University (resigned September, 2005)
SUZANNE M. WILSON, Michigan State University

Staff

LYNDA STANLEY, Director, Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment
KEVIN LEWIS, Program Officer
PAT WILLIAMS, Senior Project Assistant
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BOARD ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTED ENVIRONMENT

HENRY J. HATCH, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (retired), Oakton, Virginia, Chair
MASSOUD AMIN, University of Minnesota
REGINALD DesROCHES, Georgia Institute of Technology
DENNIS DUNNE, Consultant, Scottsdale, Arizona
PAUL FISETTE, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
LUCIA GARSYS, Hillsborough County, Florida
WILLIAM HANSMIRE, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas
THEODORE C. KENNEDY, BE&K, Inc.
SUE McNEIL, University of Delaware
DEREK PARKER, Anshen+Allen
HENRY G. SCHWARTZ, JR., Washington University
WILLIAM WALLACE, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
CRAIG ZIMRING, Georgia Institute of Technology

Staff

LYNDA STANLEY, Director
MICHAEL COHN, Program Officer
KEVIN LEWIS, Program Officer
DANA CAINES, Financial Associate
PAT WILLIAMS, Senior Project Assistant
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Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse
perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National
Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to
provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published
report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for
objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and
draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We
wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
David W. Bearg, Life Energy Associates
Sheila Bosch, Green Ark, Inc.
Julie Dockrell, University of London
Dennis Dunne, dddunne & associates
James W. Guthrie, Vanderbilt University
Alan Hedge, Cornell University
James Kadamus, Sightlines, Inc.
Melvin Mark, The Pennsylvania State University
Donald Milton, University of Massachusetts Lowell
William B. Rose, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ward V. Wells, Texas A&M University
Richard N. Wright, National Institute of Standards and Technology (retired)

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and
suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did
they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen
by Henry W. Riecken, University of Pennsylvania, Emeritus. Appointed by the National
Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of
this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review
comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests
entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11756.html
PREPUBLICATION COPY-SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning
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Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

1 INTRODUCTION 13
School Construction and Related Issues, 14
A School Building as a System of Systems, 17
School Building Performance, 18
“Green” Building Movement, 19
Green School Guidelines, 20
Statement of Task, 22
Finding and Recommendations, 22
Organization of the Report, 23
Note to Readers, 24

2 COMPLEXITY OF THE TASK AND THE COMMITTEE’S APPROACH 25
Complexity of the Task, 25
The Committee’s Approach, 30
Findings and Recommendation, 32

3 BUILDING ENVELOPE, MOISTURE MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH 34
Excess Moisture and Health, 35
Building Envelope and Moisture Management, 39
Solutions/Design Requirements for Moisture Management, 40
Current Green School Guidelines, 44
Findings and Recommendations, 44

4 INDOOR AIR QUALITY, HEALTH, AND PERFORMANCE 46
Pollutant Sources, 47
Ventilation, 51
Thermal Comfort, 54
Perception of Air Quality (Sensory Loads), 55
Ventilation System Standards, 60
Solutions/Design Requirement for Indoor Air Quality, 61
Current Green School Guidelines, 63
Findings and Recommendations, 65

5 LIGHTING AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE 67
Lighting for Visual Performance, 68
Lighting and the Circadian System, 71
Solutions/Design Requirements for Visual Performance, 72
Current Green School Guidelines, 74
Findings and Recommendations, 74

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