Fayette schools going green with new projects

Fayette County Public Schools wants to paint some green on the Bluegrass with two upcoming construction projects.

The school district says it will emphasize earth-friendly technology to reduce energy use and promote environmental sustainability at its new Locust Trace Agri-Science Center on Leestown Road and the new elementary school planned for Keithshire Way. Green concepts also will be integrated into the education experience at the facilities, district officials say.

Construction bids on the projects haven’t been opened and building plans are preliminary, so it’s unclear just how green each project will be. That probably will hinge on the costs of various green technologies and how much savings they might generate over time.

But Mary Wright, the district’s chief operating officer, said the two projects should be the most environmentally friendly facilities the district has built. And green technology figures to be part of district plans from now on, shesaid.

“We want to be more environmentally conscious, and a number of interested community groups have come to us and offered support in that regard,” Wright said. “So, we’re looking at utility usage, building design, curriculum planning and the impact of things like the new stormwater fees. It’s all part of trying to take a more global approach.”
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