Building Schools for the Future
Environmental Considerations
As a multi-million pound rebuilding and refurbishment project for secondary schools, BSF represents a major opportunity to deliver schools which are more environmentally friendly than ever before. For example, the planned new schools will be designed to high standards of energy efficiency, use renewable energy, collect rainwater for re-use and have grounds designed specifically to benefit wildlife and maximise outdoor learning opportunities for pupils.
In January 2005 the DfES placed a requirement on Local Education Authorities to ensure that all new schools are formally assessed against the BREEAM Schools checklist, and that they achieve a score of at least 55% for each new school.
Durham has a strong background of embedding sustainable development principles and renewable energy into its schools. A good example of existing provision is on the Cassop Primary School YouTube page.
What is BREEAM?
BREEAM stands for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is a nationally recognised standard method for assessing the environmental performance of new and refurbished buildings.In 2004 the Building Research Establishment teamed up with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to develop a long checklist of environmental ‘credits’ for new and refurbishment school building projects.
For more details on the part that environmental issues and BREEAM have to play in the BSF project, visit the BSF pages or contact Durham County Council’s Sustainability Section, Tel: 0191 3836468 or email Sustainability Issues
Visit the Sustainable Environment Policy page to find out more about the sustainable development work Durham County Council are involved in.
