Sustainable Design ChallengeOn April 13th students from DuPage County high schools will show their “green” or “sustainable” building design projects to the public at the 3rd Annual Sustainable Design Challenge for high school students. There will be amazing models of their designs along with posters explaining their research and the design elements that make their building “green.” The students have been guided by their teachers to incorporate design strategies from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program to both reduce environmental impact and provide occupants with a healthy, productive space. The students’ projects highlight renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines, water conservation with native plant landscaping, and stormwater management with permeable parking lots and vegetated roofs. In the previous two years of the Challenge, the students have wowed us with their creativity, for example, designing an underground bowling alley covered with a thriving green roof and utilizing stored rainwater for toilet flushing, and a light and airy vertical farm shooting into the sky from its small footprint on the ground. The Challenge was conceived of by the SCARCE team and made into reality with funding from DuPage County’s Stormwater Management Department and the Environmental Education program. SCARCE is an award-winning environmental education not-for-profit headquartered in Glen Ellyn, IL providing community and teacher education in DuPage County. SCARCE educators help county teachers to both inspire and instruct their students in “sustainable” design concepts, including taking teachers on Green Building tours and educating them on the environmental issues and cutting-edge design solutions. The Challenge will be held in the DuPage County Administration Building Auditorium (421 N County Farm Rd., Wheaton) on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 and will be open to the public from 9 to 11 a.m. All are welcome to come and look at the projects and talk with the students who will delight you with their enthusiasm and creative projects. | |
