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Architects working on the proposed new Norwood High design are looking to add some green to the school's traditional royal blue and white.
A directive from the Massachusetts School Building Authority instructed architects to ensure the design meets high-efficiency standards. The authority is overseeing the design of the new school based on the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School model. The authority is offering extra reimbursement to municipalities that meet certain standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.
The authority, which was formed by the Legislature in 2004, has partnered with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to develop what are essentially scorecards for new buildings that rate designs on aspects such as how well it uses ambient light, whether it recycles rainwater and even whether the school has anti-idling policies for buses.
Communities that meet a threshold of 34 out of a possible 42 points as determined by the technology collaborative are eligible for an additional two points of reimbursement from the building authority. Designs that score between 0 and 33 points get an additional 1.5 reimbursement points.
But architect Scott Dunlap said there is some confusion in Norwood's case because the town has opted to participate in the authority's Model School Program. Dunlap said the program stipulates that schools will be designed to the 34-point threshold.
Further, model school program participants will receive an additional five "bonus" reimbursement points.
"It's not certain whether you truly get those two additional points or whether that is considered part of the bonus," Dunlap said.
General Manager John Carroll said the "green school" points are in addition to the five points being given for the model school program participation, but said he will write a letter to the authority to clarify.
"I think we need to get that straightened out," said Carroll.
School officials are collecting documentation on existing school programs, such as recycling, to ensure the new design gets the maximum points.
The Whitman-Hanson design was a pilot project of the authority and the collaborative and meets every high standard as it includes a solar electric system on the roof, a 20,000-gallon underground water storage tank to collect rainwater and use it to flush toilets and other features.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com
Architects working on the proposed new Norwood High design are looking to add some green to the school's traditional royal blue and white.
A directive from the Massachusetts School Building Authority instructed architects to ensure the design meets high-efficiency standards. The authority is overseeing the design of the new school based on the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School model. The authority is offering extra reimbursement to municipalities that meet certain standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.
The authority, which was formed by the Legislature in 2004, has partnered with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to develop what are essentially scorecards for new buildings that rate designs on aspects such as how well it uses ambient light, whether it recycles rainwater and even whether the school has anti-idling policies for buses.
Communities that meet a threshold of 34 out of a possible 42 points as determined by the technology collaborative are eligible for an additional two points of reimbursement from the building authority. Designs that score between 0 and 33 points get an additional 1.5 reimbursement points.
But architect Scott Dunlap said there is some confusion in Norwood's case because the town has opted to participate in the authority's Model School Program. Dunlap said the program stipulates that schools will be designed to the 34-point threshold.
Further, model school program participants will receive an additional five "bonus" reimbursement points.
"It's not certain whether you truly get those two additional points or whether that is considered part of the bonus," Dunlap said.
General Manager John Carroll said the "green school" points are in addition to the five points being given for the model school program participation, but said he will write a letter to the authority to clarify.
"I think we need to get that straightened out," said Carroll.
School officials are collecting documentation on existing school programs, such as recycling, to ensure the new design gets the maximum points.
The Whitman-Hanson design was a pilot project of the authority and the collaborative and meets every high standard as it includes a solar electric system on the roof, a 20,000-gallon underground water storage tank to collect rainwater and use it to flush toilets and other features.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com
