Some students in Beltsville, Maryland arrived for the first day of class at Prince George's County's first all-green school.

Jessica Forres toured the facility...

[NAT: Toilet Flush]

Prince Georges County’s Chiqui Sanchez shows off a dual flush toilet designed to conserve water.

The new toilets, she says, are one of the many features qualifying Vansville Elementary for LEED certification, or, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

THE BENCHES WERE MADE FROM THE TREES THAT WERE CUT OFF FROM THIS SITE. THEY WERE SENT TO MILLING COMPANIES SO THAT THEY CAN DO THE BENCHES OUT OF THOSE TREES.

The school which serves nearly 800 students has waterless urinals, a geothermal heating and cooling system and a large number of windows and skylights.

WE HAD A ROOM HERE THAT WAS NOT READY. IT WAS A MUSIC ROOM…THE LIGHTS WERE NOT QUITE READY TO BE TURNED ON BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO USE THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL LIGHT THAT CAME IN.

Principal Tom Smith says the new building sets an example for students on how they can become environmental stewards.

IF WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A GOOD FUTURE AND BE ABLE TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT AS ADULTS.

The total project cost is estimated to come in at nearly 30 million dollars.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News
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In Maryland, nearly 800 students have started classes in Prince George's County's first all-green school.

Jessica Forres reports…

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At Vansville Elementary School in Beltsville, sunlight beams through large windows and skylights that line the main hallway where Principal Tom Smith stands.

WHEN YOU LOOK INTO A CLASSROOM THE CEILINGS ARE SLANTED BECAUSE IT LETS IN MORE NATURAL LIGHT. THERE’S GEOTHERMAL RUNNING UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING TO THE PARK AND PLANNING. THE CHEMICALS USED TO CLEAN THE BUILDING ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

Even the toilets… [NAT: FLUSH]designed with a dual flush to conserve water… are environmentally friendly.

Brigitt Brevard with Prince George’s County Public Schools says the new school is LEED Certified…meaning it meets industry standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

WE NEED TO START WITH THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE TEACHING GOES ON.

The cost of the new school is estimated to be at 30 million dollars.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News