On September 17th, HR 3221 (the ‘‘Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009’’) passed the House in Congress. It is now in committee in the Senate. This legislation discussed some in previous blogs provides “GRANTS FOR MODERNIZATION, RENOVATION, OR REPAIR OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES” (for primary and secondary education) for the purpose of “modernizing, renovating, or repairing public school facilities (including early learning facilities, as appropriate), based on the need of the facilities for such improvements, to ensure that public school facilities are safe, healthy, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date”. Specifically such as:
- (up to 1% of funds allocated to state) for administration including “creating voluntary guidelines for high-performing school buildings, including guidelines concerning … Indoor environmental quality, such as …acoustics.” (amongst other areas of sustainable building guidelines)
- Measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to classroom noise and environmental noise pollution
- Improve teachers’ ability to teach and students’ ability to learn
In addition (for primary and secondary schools):
- 50% of funds for 2010 and 75% of funds in 2011 must be used in green schools (defined next)
- Green schools are LEED for schools, Energy Star, CHPS, Green Globes or equivalent program adopted by state.
- $2,020,000,000 is appropriated for this use
In addition, “ADVISORY COUNCIL ON GREEN, HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES” will be set up, and it will:
- Advise the Secretary of Education on the impact of green, high-performing schools, on teaching and learning, health, energy costs, environmental impact, and others as deemed appropriate.
- Assist the Secretary of Education in making recommendations on Federal policies to increase the number of green, high-performing schools, identifying Federal policies that are barriers to helping States and local educational agencies make green, high-performing schools, providing technical assistance and outreach to States and local educational agencies, and other assistance as the deemed appropriate.
Community colleges get $2.5 billion in funds, but at least 50% must go towards green building construction.