LHA Recognized for Achieving LEED® Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council

Yesterday, Mark Martin and Dow Edwards were present when the Langston Hughes Academy building was recognized for achieving LEED® Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 44,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.

"After the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the Recovery School District made a bold declaration. Rather than simply rebuilding its schools, the district would re-imagine their approach to educational environments," said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. "With four LEED certified schools and dozens more in process, RSD is an inspiration for disaster-affected communities looking for solutions in the face of adversity. The Center for Green Schools at USGBC has been honored to work hand-in-hand with the RSD team to deliver healthy, high-performing schools to the deserving community of New Orleans.”

According to published reports, green schools save on average $100,000 per year on operating costs — enough to hire two new teachers, buy 200 new computers, or purchase 5,000 textbooks. On average, green schools use 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than conventionally constructed schools, and if all new U.S. school construction and renovation went green today, the total energy savings alone would be $20 billion over the next 10 years.

L to R: Mark Martin (LHA School Director), Rachel Gutter (Center for Green Schools), Dow Edwards (Co-Chair of the NOLA180 Board of Directors), Anisa Baldwin Metzger (Center for Green Schools).