The design of the green classroom, which was presented by Keagan Boyce, Cody Case and Deanna Molnar, features photovoltaic solar panels and geothermal heating. Other design features includes a light shelf, curtain walls, prismatic skylights, floors made of cork or recyclable carpeting, denim insulation made from recycled jeans, fiber cement exterior walls and fiber cement boarding. The computers in this portable classroom design will be powered by the solar panels.
The exterior of the classroom will feature a grass covered wall, which will provide natural insulation and prevent water runoff from the roof. The classroom would also have rain gardens at the downspouts.
The idea of building the green classroom came from research and a field trip to the “Ecobuild Conference”, an annual conference on sustainable building in Washington DC. The design would be undertaken by students of Tech High’s carpentry, electrical, HVAC and horticulture departments.
The design has earned the school, a $10,000 grant from State Farm Insurance, in partnership with SkillsUSA. Alan Zube, a pre-engineering teacher at Washington County Technical High School, said that the portable classroom is estimated to cost around $30,000.
