$100 Million allocated for green schools

The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) provides an excellent venue for manufacturers to showcase and promote their low-emitting products.

In 2006, California voters approved Proposition 1D, a $10.4 billion package to build and upgrade K-12 schools, community colleges and state universities. $100 Million of this money will fund the design and construction of "green" or high-performance schools that include design features to improve energy, water and resource efficiency and attend to the health and comfort of students and staff. The Division of the State Architect recommended that the CHPS Best Practices Manual (Volume III - Criteria 2006 Edition) be used as the benchmark for the construction of these new green schools. As a result, the $100 million will be distributed to schools based on how many green design features they include in their designs. This strong financial incentive undoubtedly will promote the use of building products that contribute to healthy indoor environments.

Fifteen California school districts have already established resolutions requiring that their future schools meet the CHPS design criteria. PLUS, this is not just a California thing - the success of the program has inspired the adoption of the CHPS criteria by 8 other states - New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut.

The IAQ section of the CHPS Best Practices Manual EQ2.2: Low-Emitting Materials provides up to 4 design points for using low-emitting products in classrooms and work areas of schools. These are products that have been tested in accordance with the CDPH Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers (2004) and that meet the criteria defined in the practice. The following categories of indoor products are eligible for low-emitting materials credits (1/2 point per category, 4 pts max):

• Flooring adhesives, sealants, and concrete sealers
• Carpets
• Resilient flooring
• Wood flooring (e.g., gymnasium)
• Paints
• Thermal insulation products
• Gypsum board
• Acoustical ceilings
• Cabinetry
• Teacher/pupil desks and chairs
• Composite wood products

Manufacturers can list their qualifying products in the online CHPS Low-Emitting Materials (LEM) table. Even products outside of the 11 categories are encouraged to apply. All that is required is a conforming laboratory report by a qualified independent laboratory, a letter from the laboratory certifying the results and a submittal form in which the manufacturer identifies the products that meet the requirement. There is NO CHARGE for the listing and it is a ONE-TIME EVENT as long as the product formulation remains the same, i.e., no quarterly or annual retesting is required.

BAA has tested many of the products that are now listed in the LEM table and can help you take advantage of this opportunity to support healthy schools and promote your green products.