Sunlight floods the corridors and classrooms of many of the new facilities constructed through Boulder Valley School District’s (BVSD) Bond Program. This abundant sunshine is the result of a variety of innovative techniques used to bring more daylight into buildings. Daylighting is the practice of using natural light to illuminate building spaces rather than relying solely on electric lighting during the day. The technique reduces the need for electric lighting and produces natural, pleasant light. It is just one of the techniques employed by architects in the Bond Program to create spaces which are comfortable for users and more efficient to operate.

A new report produced by Boulder Valley School District details the green building techniques used in projects in the first phase of the BVSD Bond Program. To document green building efforts, the District asked project architects to provide a summary of sustainable features for each project and compiled the results in the report which can be found online at: http://bvsd.org/bondproject/Documents/Sustainability%20Report%20Phase%201%20Bond%20Projects.pdf.  

One of the initial steps the district took to “green” the Bond Program was to update BVSD’s technical specifications to include more sustainable elements. Technical specifications are the guidelines the district uses for construction. In addition, the architecture firms selected for the Bond work were chosen in part because of their expertise and experience with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

The results of these efforts are facilities that are energy efficient, use resources wisely and are comfortable to occupy. Many projects include more efficient mechanical and electrical systems and better insulation. Strategies such as window glazing and reflective roofs were used to reduce heat gain and cooling demands in warmer months. Lights have occupancy sensors and in some cases, dimming ballasts that adjust electric lighting levels as the natural lighting in a room changes. To create high quality indoor environments for students and staff, many new spaces offer user climate and lighting controls, operable windows, abundant daylighting and views. Most interior finishes such as carpet and paint are low VOC emitting to reduce unpleasant odors.

“We are proud of what we have been able to achieve for Boulder Valley students through the Bond Program,” said Don Orr, Executive Director of Bond Planning, Engineering and Construction. “Through the generous support of Boulder Valley taxpayers, we have been able to create healthy, productive learning spaces that also are beneficial to the District’s bottom line.”