Creating Healthy Learning Environments
Photo courtesy of Forbo Flooring Systems
The average school building in use today is not a new one, but an existing building that may be 50 to 60 years old with issues associated with materials and maintenance.
Where do those pollutants come from? Experts worldwide confirm that a variety of toxins known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, can be emitted from certain building construction materials, cleaning and maintenance products, or school supplies. VOCs include substances such as formaldehyde and glycol ethers as well as plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a thermoplastic made of 57 percent chlorine (derived from industrial grade salt) and 43 percent carbon (derived predominantly from oil/gas via ethylene) which is made softer and more flexible by the addition of chemicals known as phthalates. PVC and phthalates are often used in common products such as vinyl flooring, carpets, building materials, floor strippers/finishes, and in school supplies such as binders, backpacks, lunchboxes, and laptops. VOCs and phthalates contain known human toxins that are absorbed through the respiratory system or through skin contact, leading to potential health hazards for those exposed.
In addition, since (and despite) the enactment of the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, 84,000 chemicals remain untested for toxicity and are potentially harmful. The overwhelming majority of these chemicals don't require testing and less than five have been regulated or banned under this law. Some are legal in the U.S. based on the quantity present in a given product and their ability to flow from that product to people, i.e. the exposure level. The presence of these hazards is further exacerbated by school buildings that are tightly sealed and/or poorly ventilated—a condition prevalent in both old as well as newly constructed facilities.
Photos courtesy of Forbo Flooring Systems
Chemicals found in building products and cleaners can contain toxic and potentially harmful characteristics.
When it comes to maintenance in schools, there is also a concern. In 2008 the 21st Century School Fund conducted a study, along with the separate American School & University's 36th Annual Maintenance & Operations Cost Study for Schools that revealed that U.S. public schools spent only about $5 per square foot per year to maintain and operate a school. At that level, the average school reportedly spent less than half of the money on maintenance, repair, and capital renewals than would be necessary to bring it into a state of good repair and optimal environmental conditions for students. With only this amount to spend on building maintenance, it would seem wise for schools to invest in products that require minimal maintenance and post-installation expenses. However, growing financial pressures and a historic disconnect between capital and operating budgets, especially in the K-12 arena, have often driven less-than optimal investment decisions. Building materials are often selected to satisfy only first-cost, short-term budget issues without understanding the long-term cleaning and maintenance costs associated with cleaning supplies and operations labor.
CASE STUDY: CAYWOOD ELEMENTARY & TURKEY FOOT MIDDLE SCHOOL, KENTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Owner: Kenton County School District
Architect and Interior Designer: PCA Architects
General Contractor at Caywood: Messer Construction
Flooring Contractor at Caywood: Spectrum Interiors
Construction Manager at Turkey Foot: Turner Construction
Flooring Contractor at Turkey Foot: CDI Carpet Decorators, Inc.
A Kentucky school district wins top nationwide honors without losing sight of the bottom line.
The district's challenges:
• Addressing the excessive time and expense of floor care, wanting to free busy maintenance staff for more productive tasks
• Using products that reflect a concern for the community's long-term environmental health
• Maximizing environmental performance without exceeding tight construction budgets
The solutions used:
• Linoleum tile and sheet flooring which require no time-consuming stripping and finishing processes
• 100 percent bio-based products that are naturally antimicrobial and free of allergens and plasticizers. They are completely biodegradable, without the toxicity or disposal issues of PVC-based products.
• From the moment of occupancy, the linoleum tile cost less to own. The advantages continue forward through significantly lower maintenance costs.
The two newest schools in the Kenton County School District have some of the highest ENERGY STAR scores for schools in America, making them among the best in terms of environmental sustainability. This accomplishment is topped by an even more impressive distinction: Both were built for the same price as an average school building in their home state of Kentucky. The achievements made at Caywood Elementary and Turkey Foot Middle School required the district to innovate in virtually every aspect of school construction. Both schools are unique from top to bottom, from the solar roof overhead to the environmentally friendly flooring underfoot in the hallways. The innovation also extends deep beneath the earth, with geothermal wells to supply the schools' heating and cooling.
Floored by the savings. “When I started at Kenton County, we were slaves to the vinyl composition tile (VCT) floors,” recalled Rob Haney, the district's executive director of Support Operations and a key decision maker in the Kenton County building programs. “Our staff was stripping and reapplying seven coats of wax, year in and year out. We were getting practically nothing else done all summer. We even ended up working on the floors during the winter break.” The linoleum floors were a welcome relief since they were ready for high-traffic use the day after they were installed and no longer required the extensive waxing. VCT floors were also taxing tight operating budgets with the cost of strippers and floor finishes, which aren't necessary with linoleum. “We were bringing in stripping agents and floor finish by the semi-truck load. It was a tremendous cost in material as well as labor,” he said, adding that the burden was multiplied by difficulties connected with safe disposal of spent floor care chemicals.
The schools' extensive new use of linoleum sheet and tile in classrooms and hallways was initially prompted by the designers at PCA Architects, who routinely recommend linoleum over vinyl in their education projects. “In education, striving for the healthiest possible environment is a given,” noted Andrew Piaskowy, AIA, of PCA. In addition to its status as a bio-based, completely recyclable material, PCA preferred it for its natural antimicrobial properties. “It's ideal for use in a setting where the spread of colds, flu, and other infections need to be kept to a minimum,” Piaskowy added.
New ideas solve old problems. Linoleum flooring was one of many innovative building solutions that made Caywood and Turkey Foot exceptional in both cost containment and environmental stewardship. Both schools are equipped with geothermal heat pumps, and the roof at Turkey Foot is filled with banks of solar panels that generate electrical energy for cooling, lighting, and building systems. Walls are equipped with banks of clerestory windows that illuminate without the need for electric lights. The walls at Turkey Foot were crafted of insulated concrete formwork instead of traditional brick, which lowered material costs. Interior walls featured extensive use of ground face block, providing a handsome appearance without the need for painting. In an interesting twist, linoleum was used to create wainscots that protect the walls in stairwells, hallways, and gymnasiums, protecting the walls from marks or stains that are difficult to remove from painted walls or brick. “It looks as good today as the day when we opened the school, and it will always look good,” Haney said with pride. “It's an application that we'll definitely use again.”
Teacher raises and rich possibilities. The innovations at Kenton County were successful in delivering the outcome that is every school district's bottom line: the satisfaction of the students, teachers, and parents who use their schools. Dramatic evidence of success showed in significant enrollment increases, thanks to Kenton County parents who moved their children to both Caywood and Turkey Foot. Parents who want their children to attend Turkey Foot must now add their names to the school's waiting list. Teachers also have a reason to smile. The Kenton County School District is one of the few school districts in Kentucky that offered their teachers a raise last year. “With all the financial pressures on school districts,” Piaskowy noted, “I think that fact speaks volumes for the financial outcomes their sustainability initiatives have been able to achieve.”
Photos courtesy of Forbo Flooring Systems
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