This article originally appeared on the Education Market Association ESSENTIALS website and has been posted with permission.
Climate change is everyone’s crisis, and how we build and manage our buildings can help create a piece of the solution. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has called on architects around the world to support humanity’s collective call to climate action through an unrelenting commitment to sustainable and resilient design. one of the ways we can do that is to aim for Zero Net Energy (ZNE) school buildings. In a ZNE building, the total amount of energy used by the structure annually is equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
For most communities, the school system is a cornerstone for the area. By their nature, senior leaders within school districts are often seen as thought leaders, guiding the way towards a brighter future. Educational leaders, along with architects, engineers, designers, and builders can, and should, direct the discussion on important issues like climate change, sustainability, resilience, alternative energy, and others. Then, we should act.