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Every future building in the system will use Earth-friendly construction materials, as well as paints, carpets and glues. The costs of green features such as solar hot water heaters and skylights pay off quickly. The $1.5 million spent to add environmental features to the Renaissance Academy should pay off in savings in eight years.
 

When solar panels boil water for the kitchens, plants are growing on the roof and sunlight streams into the classrooms at the new Renaissance Academy, Tim Cole finally will see his vision taking shape.

Cole, sustainable schools project manager for the city, started pushing the schools to build "green" when he was hired in 2000. Hermitage Elementary, which has waterless urinals, natural landscaping, recycled materials and energy-saving fixtures, was the first tangible result.

When it opened in 2005, Hermitage was the first elementary school in Virginia to attain a voluntary environmental certification called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

When the school was dedicated, Cole was in Iraq, part of a 16-month recall to active duty as a Navy SEAL. When he returned, he asked Tony Arnold, who heads construction for Beach schools, how the construction was going on the three green projects started in his absence.

"He just looked at his shoes," Cole recalled.

Arnold admits as much. He credits Cole with getting the ball rolling again.

"He's really single-handedly pushed us as a school system toward all of these sustainable initiatives," Arnold said.

Every future building in the system will incorporate renewable energy and earth-friendly construction materials, as well as paints, carpets and

glues. A new transportation facility will have four wind turbines and is designed to stop rainwater runoff on the site. Five schools under construction or design also will be certified green.

As population grows and the scarcity of natural resources increase, "there's not enough stuff to go around to keep doing things the way we've been doing business," Cole said.

He is pushing the schools to think about all 10 million square feet of its building space. With a Sustainable Schools Committee and liaisons in every building generating ideas, the schools have started shutting computers off automatically at night, reducing air conditioning bills with four -day workweeks during the summer and cleaning with products free of harsh chemicals.

In the future, Cole hopes schools can cultivate vegetables that can be served in the cafeteria. Many elementaries already have outdoor learning gardens. A burgeoning recycling program also saved enough energy last year to power 618 homes.

He sees benefits not just for the Earth but for individuals. Studies have found that students breathe better, have fewer behavior problems and might even perform better on tests in naturally lit buildings with good air quality.

The costs of green features such as solar hot water heaters and skylights pay off quickly. The $1.5 million spent to add environmental features to the Renaissance Academy should be paid for in savings within eight years while the building is expected to last 50, Cole said.

"If you're interested in saving money, you need to build buildings as sustainably as you possibly can," he said.

Cole stood recently in the Renaissance Academy gym, where the basketball hoops were covered with cardboard boxes. The alternative middle/high school is set to open in January.

"You know what's nice?" he said, turning in a circle on the floor. "There aren't any lights on. We're in the middle of the school and we don't need any lights."