The Grauer School Receives LEED Gold Certification

Encinitas, CA – Two acres of wildlife preserve, a state-of-the-art solar panel array, and a whole-school teaching program tailored for environmental stewardship were key components that led to The Grauer School’s latest, national award: the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” certification.

Craig Gertz, Grauer’s Board of Trustees Chair, announced that, through collaboration with Zagrodnik & Thomas Architects of San Diego, the newest buildings on The Grauer School’s Encinitas campus successfully achieved the rigorous LEED standards, continuing the school’s 26-year history of environmental leadership. LEED is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green building, administered by the Green Building Certification Institute which is the certifying body of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues.

Grauer’s most recent building project received the LEED Gold certification due to the inclusion of a whole-campus plan including solar panels on the rooftops, a highly-efficient HVAC system, a minimal building footprint and increased green space due to the 2-story structure, parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, water-efficient landscaping and plumbing, low-emitting materials, and sophisticated lighting.

The school also received points for using its campus as a teaching tool by integrating the sustainable features of the facility with its educational mission. The Grauer campus features two gardens, a greenhouse, an orchard, a hydroponic garden and fish tank, and a two-acre wildlife preserve with marked walking trails. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs from the school’s gardens are used regularly in the teaching kitchen. Classes are often conducted outdoors around campus, including in an outdoor classroom space composed of a circle of tree stumps in the wildlife preserve area.

Junior and seniors in Environmental Science class (pictured in the photo above) maintain the campus gardens throughout the school year, under the direction of their teacher, Nick Scacco. Senior Krystyanna Melson said, “We’ve learned in class that the soil is filled with living organisms. It’s been exciting to see how the seeds we planted have transformed bare soil into a lush garden.” Senior Mitchell Davis said, “Working in the Grauer garden inspired me to create my own garden at home, and I plan to continue gardening at the University of Hawaii next year.” Senior Drew Rein added, “We’ve learned that it doesn’t take much space to grow enough organic food for a person to eat well.” The class also takes composting and recycling on campus seriously. In addition to maintaining the school’s compost and recycle bins, Scacco and his students organized a Zero Waste Day to educate all of the other Grauer students about reducing their carbon footprint and the amount of trash they throw away.

The Environmental Science class was excited to hear about Grauer’s LEED Gold certification because they’ve learned about the importance of environmentally-conscious design and architecture this year. Senior Krystyanna Melson said, “Grauer’s buildings are a perfect example of architecture that is energy-efficient as well as attractive.” Senior Geneva Proctor added, “I enjoy all the open space on Grauer’s beautiful campus, where we can take a break between classes and experience nature every day. Picnics on the grass in the courtyard at lunchtime are a special treat.” Senior Juan Basave said, “I appreciate the generous classroom light and views of the campus outside. At a previous school, I had classes in rooms with no windows and I found that difficult.”

Dr. Stuart Grauer, Head of School, noted, “Great education happens indoors and out. The LEED Gold certification is a part of leading edge education, and it’s the right thing for us to be doing. The school has optimized its energy performance, and on some days, we are actually energy producers rather than consumers. But the fact that the buildings, gardens, greens, and wildlife corridors are actually a part of student instruction is the most exciting facet of the project to me.”

About The Grauer School

The Grauer School, founded in 1991, is a grades 7-12 private, college preparatory school located in Encinitas, California. The school is accredited by WASC, a member of NAIS, and serves as a successful educational model for hundreds of private schools around the world through the Small Schools Coalition (SSC), established by Dr. Stuart Grauer in 2011. To learn more about The Grauer School, visit www.grauerschool.com or call 760/944-6777.