It is back to school time here in the United States. While some students have been back in school for a month or longer, others are preparing to return in the coming weeks. MNN bloggers have been covering green back to school topics for the past few weeks and now I get to join them. BASF is hosting a High Performance Buildings for Education Summit on Sept. 16 in New York City.

 

“In support of its continuing commitment to sustainability, BASF is convening a panel of speakers to provide attending school administrators, architects, construction companies, general contractors and sustainable design experts, an overview of what it takes to construct or retrofit educational buildings to make the learning environment more energy-efficient, healthy, safe, and productive.” Source: BASF

 

As the financial crisis unfolded, state budgets were feeling the crunch. Unfortunately many state legislatures have chosen to make massive cuts to education budgets in order to clear up these deficits. One area that schools in Arizona have had to make drastic cuts is on energy costs. If schools were more energy efficient, districts wouldn’t have to choose between comfortable classrooms and other school necessities.

 

Although this summit isn’t going to help solve the current problem, it may provide school administrators and construction firms the tools that they need to help prevent something like this from being such a major concern in the future.

 

BASF has secured a stellar lineup of green building professionals to speak at the first annual High Performance Buildings for Education Summit. Speakers scheduled to appear include Rob Watson of EcoTech International. Watson was also the Founder of the USGBC’s LEED rating system.

 

Other speakers at the half-day event include Vivian Loftness FAIA, LEED AP, David Moolj, and Kris Kolluri.

 

The event will be held at The New York Academy of Sciences at 7 World Trade Center in New York City. BASF has required online pre-registration in order to attend the event.