Smart Schools

Smart Schools for developing and third world regions

While not required for LEED Certification, LEED consultants are often tasked with managing the certification process. This includes assisting the design team with sustainability strategies, defining technical requirements for certification, and submitting the documentation required for certification. The scope of LEED consulting services ranges widely. Still, it is always intended to assist the project team, not to guarantee that it will achieve LEED certification. Ultimately, the design and construction team’s expertise and support will be required for adequately documenting credit opportunities, meeting the prerequisite requirements, and delivering the information promptly.

Local Resource to build local pride

These educational environments would be installed using a local workforce that has been trained to install sustainable buildings.
This approach would:

Power & Education for Africa are at near the bottom of the World Bank Tables

Although building a school building should be a fairly routine task, providing a safe and enriching environment with a reliable energy source to remote villages is a huge challenge. In Africa, overcrowded schools magnify the predicament of delivering quality education to needy children.  Because of the remote location of the schools and the lack of reliable power sources, wind and solar photovoltaic power system are an integral part of a Spartan Education Environment.

This renewal energy harnesses the right amount of energy to power LED Lights, computers, networks, VSAT, security.  It converts the sun’s solar radiation and wind energy into electricity via one wind turbine and (10) solar panels.  The solar arrays and wind can deliver 6.0-kW of power at a current of 60-A with 24-V of potential energy.  The electric charge derived is then stored in two Tesla battery banks.  This energy source is sustainable and can meet future growth.

The Beauty is in the Simplicity

The school environment is shipped as a complete kit in a container via ocean freight, and arrives ready for installation:

  • The building: The building envelope will be designed using 3D Cad Architecture. The building is a USA manufactured insulated pre-fabricated building, tested and integrated prior to shipping, and includes piers to anchor the building in the ground eliminating the need to source concrete, and is guaranteed for 30 years.
  • The systems: computers, internet, desks, chairs, smart black boards, and educational content that can be accessed via internet. Basic maintenance of the systems is relatively easy for school administrators. While the arrays must be kept clean and the panels replaced if they are broken, systems should be maintenance-free for up to 15 years.
  • The energy source: solar & wind power systems. The electrical systems are warrantied for 10 years.

The Beauty is in the Simplicity

A study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) found that Asia’s increased economic performance over Africa and Latin America could be directly attributed to its higher investment in physical and human capital, such as education.  The potential of technology to help improve education has significance beyond teaching children reading and math. Quality education plays an important role in promoting economic development, improving health and nutrition and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. With the rapid expansion of information communication technologies around the globe, the timing is perfect for  harnessing western innovation to help advance the education status of the needy in remote countries.

When strategically deployed, western standard classrooms, packaged with sustainable power, low power computing solutions, access to internet and the proper educational content, will bring an enriching learning experience to some of the world’s poorest and hardest to reach communities.