School can be warm and friendly

Wake Technical Community College is following Greensboro's lead to show that that school can be friendly to the environment and be a warm and comfortable place for students. Northern Guilford in Greensboro, which opened in late January, is the latest and most extensive example of environmentally friendly school design in the state. Expanding on the concept, Wake Technical Community College is constructing an entire campus where all buildings meet recognized standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. Next year, students will attend classes in the first two buildings on the new northern campus. It will be the state's first green community college campus.

From the 2/11/07 News and Observer

Eco-friendly school has lessons built in
By Wade Rawlins, Staff Writer

GREENSBORO - The first thing people notice in the newly opened
Northern Guilford Middle School is the light. Soft, warm light. It bounces off the roof and pours into classrooms through south-facing windows. It bathes the gymnasium in the sunlight of an outdoor playing field.

"The light is wonderful," said Jane Van Middlesworth, a band teacher. "You know how it feels when you're outside -- it's warm and energizing. I think all schools should be like this." Read more...