• CHPS News
  • Public Review Period on 2009 Edition of the CHPS California Criteria Ends July 31
  • Federal Legislation for Funding for CHPS Schools Passes in the House
  • New School Districts Commit to CHPS
  • Apply for EPA's Tools for Schools Awards
• CHPS Events
  • July 25: Early Bird Discounts Deadline for Greentools 2008
  • July 31: Public Comment Period Ends for the 2009 Edition CHPS California Criteria
  • August 27: Introduction to CHPS Conference Call Seminar
  • September 11/12: Greentools for Healthy Schools
• CHPS in the News
• Introducing CHPS' Newest Members

Stakeholders wishing to review the new edition of the CHPS California Criteria have until July 31, 2008 C.O.B. PDT to submit comments. To download a copy, visit: http://www.chps.net/review/2009edition. The CHPS California Criteria provides a stringent and comprehensive standard for high performance schools and is at the heart of CHPS’ resources.

The Criteria has been adapted for use in eight states. This public review draft is representative of the priorities, codes and regulations, and climates of California. In California, the Criteria is updated every three years, coinciding with updates to Title 24, the state’s energy efficiency standard. CHPS seeks public comment on the updated Criteria. The drafts for public comment will be available until July 31st, C.O.B. PDT for the forty-five day comment period.

Some of the exciting developments for the 2009 Criteria include new credits for designing for deconstruction and adaptability; siting for school gardens; net-zero energy schools; providing safe routes to schools; innovative water management strategies; limits on mercury and other health hazards; and life-cycle assessment of building materials. To download a copy of the new edition and to make comments, visit: http://www.chps.net/review/2009edition.

On June 4, 2008, the House passed a historic bill that calls on the federal government to invest in updating the aging infrastructure of our public schools – and to invest wisely by using programs like CHPS. The 21 st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (HR 3021) would provide $20 billion to schools over the next five years to make building safe and energy-efficient schools. The CHPS Criteria was cited in the bill as one of the widely recognized standards for building high performance schools that districts could utilize to qualify for funding. Read more in an Associated Press article here.

The bill requires that sixty percent of the funding distributed in the first year go to projects using CHPS or other green building standards. By 2013, 90% of the funding will have to go to high performance projects. Click here to read Chairman George Miller's statements about CHPS from his speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on June 4, 2008.

H.R. 3021 not only promotes building high performance schools nationwide, but it also provides supplemental grants for schools in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama that were closed for at least 60 days due to Hurricane Katrina and Rita. This bill could go a long way in modernizing districts hard hit by the hurricanes of 2005. In New York, it was reported that the state could receive as much as $586 million in the first year if the bill becomes law. Liberty School District in Sullivan County, for example, is currently planning to install solar panels and geothermal heating-and-cooling technology. During the fist year of funding, Liberty could receive $191,056 to offset costs for these projects.

The bill will reach the Senate floor shortly, where it is expected to elicit high approval. President George W. Bush has already declared that he will veto this groundbreaking legislation – making it necessary for the Senate and the House to have 2/3 majority in order to override the veto. To follow the bill, visit: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3021.

Windsor Unified School District has passed a resolution committing to meeting the CHPS high performance building standards for all new construction and modernization. WSD also recently passed a bond in early June 2008 for $50 million for school construction, so we're excited that this new construction will meet the CHPS standard! To read WSD's resolution, click here. Coachella Unified School District also joined the list of CHPS school districts. Coachella Unified has 23 schools in their district. Read their resolution here.

Bond Bill update: In May, we reported on a bond bill in Palo Alto that specified CHPS in the bond bill language. That bond has since passed! Congratulations Palo Alto USD - we look forward to a generation of new CHPS schools! Palo Alto was actually the second district to make a commitment to CHPS in a funding measure. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District passed a $268 million bond back in 2006 that referenced and required CHPS. We congratulate both of these districts for their innovative policy solutions for committing to and financing high performance schools!

The winners of EPA’s prestigious IAQ Tools for Schools National Excellence and Model of Sustained Excellence Awards will be honored at EPA’s 9th Annual IAQ TfS National Symposium, to be held December 4-6, 2008. EPA also offers the Great Start and National Leadership Awards, non-competitive awards designed to recognize schools and school districts that are on their way to achieving sustainable IAQ management plans. Applications are accepted year-round.

Learn more about the benefits of winning a competitive IAQ TfS Award, view the application, or recommend an applicant for these prestigious awards by visiting: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/awards.html.

Don't miss the year's most informative and exciting training event on greener, healthier schools! Join us in Sacramento for Greentools 2008! Register today: http://www.chps.net/greentools/register.

Federal Legislation: House approves funds for 'green' schools
The Associated Press
June 4, 2008

Federal Legislation: Hall heralds bill to aid 'green' school projects
Times Herald-Record
June 17, 2008

CHPS in New Hampshire: Somersworth board OKs new school proposal
Foster's Daily Democrat
June 25, 2008

CHPS in California: Much Needed LAUSD High School Breaks Ground
Eastern Group Publications
June, 2008