October 14th, 2017
Ultra-efficient Cottage pre-school home
City School partners with VERMOD on building
By JULIA REMILLARD
Messenger Staff
City School’s new Pre-K classroom or, as they’re calling it, “The Cottage,” takes a new approach on improving the environment for early childhood education in schools.
An empty lot directly across from the school has been underused for years according to Principal Joan Cavallo, so when the idea for a new Pre-K space arose the lot immediately came to mind.
“I’m thinking we’re getting a trailer,” said Cavallo, but The Cottage is far from that. To fourteen half day Pre-K students The Cottage is their classroom and it is “very comfortable,” said teacher Debbie Gleason.
The Cottage was designed by VERMOD, a Vermont company that focuses on making efficient, affordable and durable housing. The Cottage is the first non-residential zero energy modular building they have manufactured.
The Cottage has ten inch thick walls and three inch thick windows making the building, “One of the tightest structures in Vermont,” according to Li Ling of Efficiency Vermont.
Robin Boudreau site manager at City School said that they have used anti-bacterial paint on the walls to reduce the spread of germs, and have also only brought in VOC (volatile organic compound) free furniture to prevent harmful chemicals from entering the classroom.
The water fountains along with the heating and cooling system run on timers so that they only use energy when school is in session. The lighting is able to be dimmed to match different times of day to enhance stimulation, and even the cubbies have been efficiently utilized through recycled bleacher wood adds Boudreau.
The Cottage has a central air system that measures the air quality and removes carbon dioxide and other toxins from the room when necessary. It works to ensure that the environment is clean, fresh, and healthy for the young students.
Boudreau also spoke about the Cottage’s solar electricity, explaining that The Cottage’s electricity use is offset by solar panels on the roof of the maintenance building next door. The Cottage uses no fossil fuels, just electricity making its carbon footprint miniscule.
City School’s initiatives to create a better planet stretches beyond their work with The Cottage, they have gone school wide switching to LED lighting and raising air quality within the central building as well, according to Boudreau and Cavallo.
City School partners with VERMOD on building
By JULIA REMILLARD
Messenger Staff
City School’s new Pre-K classroom or, as they’re calling it, “The Cottage,” takes a new approach on improving the environment for early childhood education in schools.
An empty lot directly across from the school has been underused for years according to Principal Joan Cavallo, so when the idea for a new Pre-K space arose the lot immediately came to mind.
“I’m thinking we’re getting a trailer,” said Cavallo, but The Cottage is far from that. To fourteen half day Pre-K students The Cottage is their classroom and it is “very comfortable,” said teacher Debbie Gleason.
The Cottage was designed by VERMOD, a Vermont company that focuses on making efficient, affordable and durable housing. The Cottage is the first non-residential zero energy modular building they have manufactured.
The Cottage has ten inch thick walls and three inch thick windows making the building, “One of the tightest structures in Vermont,” according to Li Ling of Efficiency Vermont.
Robin Boudreau site manager at City School said that they have used anti-bacterial paint on the walls to reduce the spread of germs, and have also only brought in VOC (volatile organic compound) free furniture to prevent harmful chemicals from entering the classroom.
The water fountains along with the heating and cooling system run on timers so that they only use energy when school is in session. The lighting is able to be dimmed to match different times of day to enhance stimulation, and even the cubbies have been efficiently utilized through recycled bleacher wood adds Boudreau.
The Cottage has a central air system that measures the air quality and removes carbon dioxide and other toxins from the room when necessary. It works to ensure that the environment is clean, fresh, and healthy for the young students.
Boudreau also spoke about the Cottage’s solar electricity, explaining that The Cottage’s electricity use is offset by solar panels on the roof of the maintenance building next door. The Cottage uses no fossil fuels, just electricity making its carbon footprint miniscule.
City School’s initiatives to create a better planet stretches beyond their work with The Cottage, they have gone school wide switching to LED lighting and raising air quality within the central building as well, according to Boudreau and Cavallo.