Greenhills School in Ann Arbor has followed through on a couple of its environmentally friendly enhancements to the private school.
A new wind turbine is up and running to generate electricity and light sensors have been installed in the building to help further conserve power.
The turbine, a project initiated and paid for by the school's class of 2007, was installed on the school's roof and will be used not only to generate electricity but also as an educational tool. The turbine's electricity will power LED lights that will brighten one of the school's hallways.
The school is also installing motion sensor lights in all of its bathrooms. The idea is that the lights will only be activated when people are moving in the bathroom so electricity will only be used when it's needed.
This is the latest foray into environmentalism for the school. Officials are also looking to significantly shrink the carbon footprint of a planned expansion by including features like a green roof and geothermal heating while maximizing natural light. The school will apply for LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the expansion.
Greenhills is located on Ann Arbor's east side near Geddes Road and U.S. 23. A group of local parents formed the school in 1968 as an independent, co-ed, non-denomination college preparatory school. It serves students in grades 6 through 12 from the Ann Arbor area. Enrollment is set at about 450 students. The addition will allow for an increase in enrollment of up to almost 100 students.
Source: Greenhills School
Writer: Jon Zemke
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