WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined today by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to announce the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, a list including 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C.

The announcement was made during a visit to Stoddert Elementary School, one of D.C.'s two honorees.

"Science, environmental and outdoor education play a central role in providing children with a well-rounded education, helping prepare them for the jobs of the future," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments."

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition program that opened in September 2011. Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating "green" environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy.

"Schools that take a green approach cut costs on their utility bills, foster healthy and productive classrooms, and prepare students to thrive in the 21st century economy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "These Green Ribbon School award winners are taking outstanding steps to educate tomorrow's environmental leaders, and demonstrating how sustainability and environmental awareness make sense for the health of our students and our country."

The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools, including 8 charters, and 12 private schools. In total, the schools are composed of 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high poverty schools.

"These Green Ribbon Schools are giving students and educators what they need to maximize learning and minimize risks like asthma and other respiratory illnesses, ensuring that no child is burdened by pollution in or around their school," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Today's winners are protecting our children's health and opening up environmental education opportunities for students. The EPA is proud to help recognize the Green Ribbon award winners and will continue working to improve the environment of our nation's schools and helping prepare students to succeed in the emerging green economy."

A complete list of the 2012 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools can be found here:
Awards

More information on the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools can be found here:
Purpose of Green Ribbon Schools

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia Department of Education has nominated three public schools and one private school to be considered for the U.S. Green Ribbon School Award honoring sound environmental practices. Four schools also were named inaugural West Virginia Sustainable Schools for their efforts.

The four schools nominated for the Green Ribbon program are Hilltop Elementary School in Marshall County; Musselman High School in Berkeley County; Wyoming County Career and Technical Center; and Our Lady of Fatima Parish School in Cabell County. Winners will be announced April 23 and honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on June 4.

In the state awards, Hilltop received the Black Bear Award for the Highest Achievement, while three other schools received the Maple Leaf Award for excellence in one content area: Musselman, Environmental and Sustainability Education; Wheeling Country Day School, Healthy School Environments, Wyoming County Career and Technical Center, Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency of the Facility.

"West Virginia schools are making great strides toward creating healthy environments in schools, including some that have become Energy Star schools for their conservation efforts" said state Superintendent of Schools Jorea Marple. "We want to recognize schools that strengthen that work by imbedding sustainability practices into all aspects of school life."

Both the federal and state programs recognize schools that exemplify a commitment to sustainable practices in their facilities. They also have worked to integrate those practices into the curriculum and helped build healthy and sustainable communities. All schools must meet rigorous standards in three criteria: environmental and sustainability education; healthy school environments; and environmental impact and energy efficiency of facilities.

Schools named West Virginia Sustainable Schools must agree to work to save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. The state program is a joint project of the West Virginia Department of Education; Canaan Valley Institute; the West Virginia School Building Authority; the U.S. Green Building Council, West Virginia Chapter; the West Virginia Environmental Education Association; the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; the West Virginia Division of Energy; McKinley and Associates; Green School Leadership Institute; and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

The Green Ribbon Schools program is part of a U.S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security.

"Green schools and environmental literacy complement the goals of providing a well-rounded education for the 21st century, of modernizing schools at reduced costs, and of accelerating learning," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

For more information, contact the WVDE Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia - Heritage Tourism Award

On September 23, 2011, The West Virginia Division of Culture & History, along with Christina Schessler from McKinley & Associates, were presented with the 2011 Heritage Tourism Award from the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. This award is in recognition of valuable contributions to historic preservation of Independence Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Hilltop Elementary School (LEED Certified)

May 18, 2011
Hilltop Elementary School Achieves Prestigious LEED Certification

Summary: Hilltop Elementary School, in Marshall County, West Virginia, designed by McKinley & Associates architect Thom Worlledge, won the prestigious LEED® Green Building Certification, the first school in the State of West Virginia to achieve this national recognition.

Sherrard, West Virginia - McKinley & Associates announced today that its project, Hilltop Elementary School, is West Virginia's first to achieve LEED® Certification. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Efficiency Design, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The standards are established by the U.S. Green Building Council; buildings are verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

The Marshall County School Board chose to seek certification of the school after hearing about the energy and environmental benefits a LEED school provides. When the decision to seek certification was made, the school had already been designed and awarded to a general contractor. "Fortunately few changes had to be made to the design because I incorporate LEED strategies in all my design work, believing that energy efficient green design is just good practice," said Thom Worlledge, the building's architect, "but it's good to have a third party recognize the achievement."

Hilltop Elementary is a rural Marshall County school housing 410 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The building was placed on an old football practice field behind an existing middle school. The design reflects the forms of the agricultural buildings close by and blends into the landscape. Hilltop Elementary achieved LEED certification by incorporating a variety of sustainable design strategies for energy efficiency, lighting, water use and material use. By using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a healthier environment for students, teachers and the larger community.

"Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council. "Hilltop Elementary efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit generations to come."

McKinley and Associates would like to congratulate Mike Betsch and Patrick Rymer who passed all parts of their Architect's Registration Exams (ARE), and are now officially licensed Architects in the State of West Virginia!

Building of America Network Honors Hilltop Elementary School

Hilltop Elementary School

Southfield, MI - From hundreds of submitted projects, only the best have been selected as Building of America award winners. The award honors the country's most innovative, unique and challenging projects - projects that are particularly noteworthy and/or that give back to their respective communities. The Hilltop Elementary School project is now available for viewing online at the Building of America website.

The Building of America award-winning projects represent the best in new construction and renovation in a wide variety of categories, including commercial and retail, mixed-use, multifamily residential, government, transportation/infrastructure, health care, education, religion, historical restoration, and more. Submitted projects are reviewed by a selection committee that is looking for projects with unique design or construction elements; innovative solutions to challenges, including financing, environmental, zoning, etc.; efficient and cost-effective methods of planning and execution; and/or that have a significant economical impact on the region, among others.

The Building of America Network, created by Construction Communications, is an essential link, bringing owners together with the design and construction industry nationwide by profiling new construction and renovation projects in a case-study format. Owners can read, in the words of other owners, architects and general contractors, about the newest facilities joining the landscape in their respective region. More importantly, the case studies provide a tool to help owners learn from one another's experiences. The website combines more than 50,000 links and millions of searches each year.

With more than a decade of experience, The Building of America Network in partnership with Construction Communications, based in Southfield, Michigan, has been publishing since 1996. For more information about our company, how to submit a project for consideration and how you can get involved in future editions, visit www.buildingofamerica.com. or contact Dale Jaslove, publisher, 248-945-4700 ext. 127.

Congratulations Thomas Worlledge!

McKinley and Associates would like to congratulate Thomas Worlledge who was featured in Wonderful West Virginia magazine's Farm To Table 2009 Special Issue, "Little Green Schoolhouse Teaches the Three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" by Andrea B. Bond.

"Even in the cold of winter, some buildings in West Virginia stay green year-round. These structures are designed to reduce energy costs while benefiting the environment and the community as a whole, a concept evident in the creation of the new Hilltop Elementary School in Marshall County."

Click the icon at left to view a PDF of the article.

Also, please take a look at the entire magazine here: www.wvcommerce.org/farmtotable where you may request a free hard copy of the magazine or view the full PDF.

Congratulations Christina Schessler!

McKinley and Associates would like to congratulate Christina Schessler who passed her LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification test in June 2009!

LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building techniques, the LEED Green Building Rating System, and the certification process. The LEED AP program is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), which was established with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to allow for objective, balanced management of the credentialing program.

Please visit our Sustainable Design page for more information.

Congratulations to the design team of our award-winning Charleston Office renovation!

McKinley & Associates Office / Charleston, WV (2009 AIA Merit Award Winner)

The sustainable renovations of the Charleston Area Alliance Building's warehouse in Charleston, WV, which was converted into a new office space, has received an 2009 Merit Award for Interiors from the West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This project was led by our design team in the McKinley & Associates' Charleston Office!

Congratulations Mike Betsch!

McKinley and Associates would like to congratulate Mike Betsch who passed his LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification test in March 2009!

Congratulations Gregg Dorfner and Thomas Worlledge!

The Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) has recognized the successful achievements and continual professional development efforts of Gregg Dorfner and Thom Worlledge, and has designated them as a Recognized Educational Facility Professionals (REFP)!