Greening Early Childhood Centers
Details environmentally-sound building design and facility management practices tailored specifically to the needs of this sector. Created in collaboration with LISC’s Green Development Center, this guide focuses on high-impact green design and capital investment strategies that can be implemented over the long term, as well as low-cost/no-cost ideas for physical improvements, environmental education and facilities operations that early childhood centers can undertake right away.
Introduction
The case for using green design is even more compelling for spaces used by children. Young children in particular benefit the most from healthy indoor and outdoor environments and are the most susceptible to harm from environmental toxins. In addition, a green design strategy creates an opportunity to introduce environmental education at an early age, which is key to raising future generations of citizens who think green.
This resource guide was created to help early childhood and community development organizations understand best practices in green design, specifically for children’s environments. It will help you determine whether to pursue green practices for your center, and if so, how much green design makes sense and what steps you should take to implement your plans. The guide outlines a variety of approaches, from no-cost/ low-cost options you can implement right away, to fully incorporating green design into a major new facility development through official certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) program or another certification program. Even if you are beginning with a modest approach to being green, remember you can always “think big but start small,” and you should always think long term to achieve the largest impact. If you are launching a major building project, pay close attention to the sections on “During Construction and Renovation.” Whether you have just finished a big project or you are looking for strategies to implement immediately in your existing building, you’ll find lots of ideas under “When Your Center is Up and Running.” Either way, check out the Go Green Checklist on page 32.
We recommend that any organization pursuing a green building project secure the services of an architect registered in your state, with experience in designing spaces for young children and in green design. Your project architect should be closely involved in the planning of your building from the very beginning and can help you navigate all of the many variables related to designing a quality space. An experienced architect can also assist you in securing the services of other qualified consultants such as engineers. Please refer to LISC’s Resource Guide Volume 1, Developing Early Childhood Facilities, for advice about how to search for and hire an architect and other development team members.
Although the codes and regulations governing the construction of early childhood facilities are not the main focus of this guide, you need to be aware of all applicable licensing and regulatory standards early in the design process. Your architect can work with you to ensure that your facility is fully compliant with all relevant requirements. The specific codes and regulations that apply to your project will vary greatly from state to state, but in most areas of the country, child care licensing requirements, building codes, fire safety codes and zoning regulations will all play a major role in your center’s design and location.
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