“National Review of Green Schools: Costs, Benefits, and Implications for Massachusetts” is available from the Capital E Group.
So-called “green schools”—which are designed specifically to provide healthier and more productive learning environments—cost just 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent more than conventional schools, but provide significant long-term financial benefits, concludes a study by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in Westborough.
According to the study, the benefits include energy and water savings, reduction in costs associated with wastes and emissions, and reduced cases of student asthma and other illnesses. The study also suggests that the average green school can cut energy use by one-third compared with conventional school buildings.
