Christian Academy to go green

Builders will break ground in early July on a two-floor, 34,000- square-foot facility at 2285 E. Sahuarita Road. It will use recycled and energy-efficient materials that will save the school thousands of dollars a year on energy bills.

School officials want construction finished by the time students start school on Sept. 2.

"We're looking at building this building in less than 60 days," said David Lyon, the academy's executive director.

The academy operates with a heavy emphasis on rigorous classes and strong biblical and character training.

Lyon knew the school needed a larger facility after its enrollment increased from 27 last August, when the school opened, to about 170 in May, he said.

Classes were previously held in a modular building with two classrooms.

School officials decided to build an ecologically friendly facility after months of research and collaboration with companies that specialize in green construction, Lyon said. Two of the companies recommended the idea during the process, he said.

"It just snowballed," he said, referring to the numerous companies that decided to work with the school.

Almost every aspect of the school will feature recycled or energy-efficient materials, ranging from non-toxic paints to geo-thermal air conditioning, which circulates air through an underground cooling system, Lyon said.

The school will use insulated concrete blocks made from plastic foam and recycled plastic.

Other features include windows made from recycled products and lighting that consumes little energy.

The school also will use a water-harvesting system to capture rain and reuse it for lowmaintenance landscaping, he said. "It's like a recycled school," he said.

Despite the environmentally savvy approach, green schools are not cheaper to build.

It would cost about $5 million to build a green school, which is the same it would cost for a regular school, Lyon said.

The academy will pay less than $1 million, however, because of donations and discounts from its 20 or so partnering companies, he said.

Green schools cost an average of 2 percent more to build than regular schools, said Rachel Gutter, schools sector manager for the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C.

However, the average green school saves about $100,000 each year in energy costs, Gutter said.

"When we talk about green schools, we talk about the intersection of architectural and educational practices for all the good stuff we know how to do with design for occupant health and energy," she said.

The use of recycled and non-toxic materials should help the school's learning environment, Lyon said.

"If you can be in a healthy environment with good lighting and the ventilation is good, it helps you become a better student," he said.

Lyon said he expects the community to contribute greatly to the construction of the school.

School officials expect construction to go on 18 hours a day, with help from parents, students and other volunteers, he said.

"Kids and parents will come volunteer time in different projects, whether it's cleaning up, serving drinks and offering support," he said.

Parent Stephanie Amalong, her husband Tim and their two children will be on hand to help the school get built, she said.

"Whatever's needed, we will be there for Mr. Lyon," she said.

Her husband's parents' house is built with the same insulated concrete blocks that'll be used by the school, she said.

"It reminds me of the adobe with real thick walls," she said. "That's how his parents' house is efficient with electricity."

New school seeks silver certification

Sahuarita Christian Academy is hoping to to attain a silver certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.

The certification program measures schools on issues such as classroom acoustics and mold prevention.

Ratings range from certified to silver, gold and platinum, with platinum being the highest certification.

Davidson Elementary School, 3950 E. Paradise Falls Drive, is certified and is the only Tucson-area school participating in the program.