The Hillside Middle School in Salt Lake City School District, one of the oldest public school districts in Utah, has set up high standards with their green credentials for the others to follow. The institution authority has built a brand new Hillside Middle School that is the first nationally certified green building. These days students from surrounding schools can be seen visiting the future school to see the beautiful and sustainable design.
Hillside a model of sustainable building techniques, but also teaches students real-life lessons in recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation. The school that is on its way to receive a “silver” rating in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program includes a long list of green features. The $20 million structure maximizes the use of natural light to save on energy. The insulated windows keep away the heat, offering the students to study in a cool environment. The paints that have been used have low levels of volatile-organic compounds. A series of filters in the boiler room keep harmful particles from blowing through the school’s ventilation system, giving the little kids clean, fresh air to breath.