First Substitute H.J.R. 1

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 4:30 PM by Bbryner. -->

Representative Mark A. Wheatley proposes the following substitute bill:

1 GREEN SCHOOLS JOINT RESOLUTION
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Mark A. Wheatley
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature encourages the Utah State Board of Education
10 and Utah's school districts to consider ways to establish green schools in the state of
11 Utah.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . encourages the Utah State Board of Education to consider the broader application of
15 the design and construction practices for green schools, both for new construction
16 and major renovation projects undertaken with school district funds; and
17 . encourages school districts to consider sustainable practices that can be incorporated
18 effectively into school construction and operation.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23 H. [ WHEREAS, deteriorating school infrastructure and poor indoor environmental quality
24 threaten the health, well-being, and achievement of students and staff in the state's public
25 schools; ] .H

26 WHEREAS, green schools are schools that create a healthy environment that is
27 conducive to learning, while saving money, energy, and resources;
28 WHEREAS, green schools create an environment that supports student learning
29 through improvements in site selection, daylighting, indoor air quality, thermal comfort,
30 acoustics, and classroom design, all of which have an impact on a child's ability to learn and a
31 teacher's ability to teach;
32 WHEREAS, the benefits of superior air quality, a key emphasis of green schools, have
33 been linked to lower asthma rates, fewer allergies, reduced absenteeism, and increased teacher
34 retention rates;
35 WHEREAS, according to the United States Green Buildings Council, green schools
36 consume an average of 30% to 50% less energy compared to conventional schools;
37 WHEREAS, green schools cost less to operate, utilize durable materials, and greatly
38 reduce water and energy use, which generates significant cost savings;
39 WHEREAS, green schools provide an educational experience that transcends the
40 classroom by creating a host of opportunities for curriculum innovation and hands-on,
41 project-based learning in which the building itself becomes an interactive teaching tool; and
42 WHEREAS, new schools currently under construction are on track to be among the
43 first energy net-zero K-12 schools in the nation:
44 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
45 encourages the Utah State Board of Education to consider the broader application of the design
46 and construction practices for green schools, both for new construction and major renovation
47 projects undertaken with school district funds.
48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages school districts to
49 consider sustainable practices that can be incorporated effectively into school construction and
50 operation.
51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah State
52 Board of Education, and to the school boards of the state's 41 school districts.