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H.J.R. 20

             1     

GREEN SCHOOLS JOINT RESOLUTION

             2     
2010 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 Board of Education to consider the broader application of the
             15      design and construction practices for green schools, both for new construction and
             16      major renovation projects undertaken with school district funds; and
             17          .    encourages school districts to consider seeking application for certification of green
             18      schools under the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and
             19      Environmental Design rating system (LEED), or certification under a comparable
             20      system with requirements at least equivalent to the LEED Silver certification for
             21      new or retrofit construction, or other building performance systems like the United
             22      States Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR Program.
             23      Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25     
             26      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          WHEREAS, deteriorating school infrastructure and poor indoor environmental quality


             28      threaten the health, well-being, and achievement of students and staff in the state's public
             29      schools;
             30          WHEREAS, current climate and energy challenges compound the structural and
             31      resource deficiencies in many school districts in the state;
             32          WHEREAS, green schools are schools that create a healthy environment that is
             33      conducive to learning, while saving energy, resources, and money;
             34          WHEREAS, green schools create an environment that supports student learning
             35      through improvements in site selection, daylighting, indoor air quality, thermal comfort,
             36      acoustics, and classroom design, all of which have an impact on a child's ability to learn and a
             37      teacher's ability to teach;
             38          WHEREAS, the benefits of superior air quality, a key emphasis of green schools, have
             39      been linked to lower asthma rates, fewer allergies, reduced absenteeism, and increased teacher
             40      retention rates;
             41          WHEREAS, according to the United States Green Buildings Council, green schools
             42      consume an average of 30% to 50% less energy compared to conventional schools;
             43          WHEREAS, green schools cost less to operate, utilize durable materials, and greatly
             44      reduce water and energy use, which generates significant cost savings;
             45          WHEREAS, green schools provide an educational experience that transcends the
             46      classroom by creating a host of opportunities for curriculum innovation and hands-on,
             47      project-based learning in which the building itself becomes an interactive teaching tool;
             48          WHEREAS, new schools currently under construction are on track to be among the
             49      first energy net-zero K-12 schools in the nation; and
             50          WHEREAS, there are now 30 commitments for green schools working groups and
             51      caucuses as a result of the United States Green Building Council's state legislative conference
             52      in October 2009:
             53          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
             54      encourages the Utah Board of Education to consider the broader application of the design and
             55      construction practices for green schools, both for new construction and major renovation
             56      projects undertaken with school district funds.
             57          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages school districts to
             58      consider seeking application for certification of green schools under the United States Green


             59      Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system (LEED), or
             60      certification under a comparable system with requirements at least equivalent to the LEED
             61      Silver certification for new or retrofit construction, or other building performance systems like
             62      the United States Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR Program.
             63          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United
             64      States Department of Energy, to the United States Green Building Council, to the Utah State
             65      Board of Education, and to the local school boards of the state's 41 school districts.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-2-10 10:10 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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