School officials say they know of no other public school in the are with a green roof.
The four-story structure, located a few blocks from downtown Wayne, is one of only a few dozen public schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey whose administrators are seeking certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its environmentally conscious features.
Those include geothermal heating and cooling provided by 144 wells sunk 500 feet into the ground, saving fuel costs and cutting dependence on fossil fuels. There are recycled materials in carpets, ceiling tiles, counters and tackboards; the lobby floor has recycled glass shards embedded in it, instead of granite chips. Classrooms have heat and motion sensors that turn off lights when they are empty, and light sensors to shut off the row of lights nearest the windows when there is adequate natural light.
The building's fluorescent bulbs are designed to reproduce the colors of natural light because research shows that students and teachers do better work that way. In each classroom, the carbon dioxide level is monitored and more fresh air is piped in if it gets too high. Heating and cooling equipment are located outside the classroom, making it quieter.
"The end goal - the intent - is not only to be environmentally conscious, but to provide the best, most healthy learning environment for kids, said district operations director Leo Bernabei.
As proud as they are of the environmental features, district administrators are even happier that after holding classes for decades in a building that first opened in 1923, they are offering the school's 850 students and their teachers a school with architectural and technological features that match the teaching methods and philosophy of the district.
