Thought Leadership
Education
Kansas City

LEED the Way: Uncovering the Benefits of Greener Schools

Discussing how LEED and WELL certifications promote sustainability and wellness in schools, JE Dunn’s Kelly Brucher sits down with sustainability expert Sara Greenwood to talk how they assist in enhancing learning environments and long-term value for students and districts.

Kelly Brucher, Client Solutions Manager for JE Dunn’s Education Group, recently sat down with Sara Greenwood, Owner and CEO of Greenwood Consulting Group, to explore the evolving landscape of LEED and WELL certifications within education design and construction projects in Kansas City. With sustainability and wellness becoming increasingly pivotal in the education sector, Kelly and Sara dive into how these certifications are shaping learning environments, contributing to healthier, more sustainable schools, and enhancing the long-term value for both students and school districts. Their discussion offers valuable insights for school leaders committed to creating spaces that foster academic success and well-being.

Kelly: Sara, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your journey in the world of sustainable design and construction.

Sara: I began my career in sustainability as an advocate for the Collaborative for High-Performance Schools (CHPS) in California, where I gained invaluable knowledge of the green building industry. In 2012, I brought that expertise to Kansas City when I founded Greenwood Consulting Group. As the Owner and CEO of Greenwood Consulting Group, I bring over 20 years of experience as a sustainability consultant, with the distinction of being a LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty, and a Green Globes Professional. Since then, my firm has built a strong reputation nationwide, consistently demonstrating strategic project management and working closely with building owners, developers, and design teams to deliver certified projects that not only meet owner requirements but also serve the needs of the building’s end users. I especially have a passion for integrating LEED and WELL certifications into education facilities, as I feel it significantly impacts the quality of education students receive.

Kelly: Let’s start with the basics. Can you give us the 101 on the difference between LEED certification and WELL certification and why a client might pursue one or the other in education environments?

Sara: Yes, LEED focuses primarily on building performance—energy efficiency, water conservation, and similar factors—while WELL is all about the health and wellness of the people inside the building. In short, LEED is about the building’s performance, and WELL is about the people inside.

WELL certification goes beyond the physical building and dives into organizational best practices. It requires documentation on things like human resources policies and how facilities are maintained. For example, WELL looks at whether the building has an emergency preparedness plan, plans for severe weather, and proper cybersecurity measures. It also covers things like nutrition, air and water quality, lighting, and acoustics, all of which are tested and verified by a third party.

I should mention that WELL certification is a significant undertaking, and it doesn’t involve the design team as much as you might think. When a design team approaches me saying their client is interested in WELL, I always suggest a meeting to discuss first. I want to ensure that the client really understands what’s involved. We’ll do an overview of WELL and make sure the owner and key stakeholders—especially those who will be responsible for maintaining compliance—are fully informed about the commitment they’re making.

Kelly: Can you explain the core benefits of LEED certification for educational facilities?

Sara: Attaining LEED certification offers several benefits for educational facilities. First, it ensures that the building meets high-performance standards that have been verified by a third-party organization. This certification isn’t just a claim; it represents rigorous, independent validation of the building’s sustainability and performance.

Often, projects that aim to meet LEED standards without pursuing formal certification may fall short of the actual criteria. Thus, obtaining certification can be more cost-effective in the long run, as it guarantees that the building adheres to the desired standards.

For educational facilities, LEED certification is particularly valuable. Schools and other educational buildings play a crucial role in the well-being and development of children. Investing in such facilities by ensuring they meet LEED standards underscores their importance, promoting healthier and more sustainable environments for students.

Kelly: Can you elaborate on health benefits of LEED buildings specifically?

Sara: There is substantial research showing that student performance improves in classrooms with adequate daylighting, clean air quality, and biophilic design. More than 20% of U.S. public schools reported having unsatisfactory indoor air quality, according to the Department of Education. Asthma is the leading cause of disease-related absenteeism in U.S. public schools. By improving indoor air quality, green schools can improve the health of students, faculty and staff, potentially decreasing sick days. So, a LEED certified environment can definitely enhance focus, mood, and overall well-being. (Source: Benefits of Green Schools – Green Education Foundation | GEF | Sustainability Education )

Acoustics is another critical factor, especially in schools. While acoustics are not a prerequisite for LEED in other building types, it is for educational facilities. Poor acoustics, such as a noisy HVAC system, can significantly hinder learning, particularly for students for whom English is not their first language. If students can’t hear clearly, their ability to engage and learn equitably is compromised.

Additionally, the selection of healthy building materials is vital in LEED-certified schools. By choosing materials that emit fewer harmful chemicals, and by implementing safe cleaning practices, we create healthier indoor environments. This is especially important for young students, as their respiratory systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable to respiratory issues. Ensuring proper ventilation and using low-emission materials helps protect their health, creating a safer, more conducive learning environment.

Kelly: What are the long-term cost savings associated with LEED-certified educational buildings?

Sara: It’s not always easy to explain the cost savings of LEED certification because there isn’t a simple formula that says, ‘If you spend this much on LEED, you’ll save this much over time.’ Every school is different, and LEED is based on earning points for choosing energy-efficient options. Several factors, like the school’s location, can influence the points earned, especially when considering things like emissions from transportation. This makes it tricky to have a one-size-fits-all answer for cost savings.

I will say that operating costs for energy and water in a green school can be reduced by 20% to 40%, directing more funding towards teacher salaries, textbooks, and computers. Also, on an average, a green school reduces water usage by 32%. This reduction has direct savings for the building, as well as substantial societal benefits, such as reducing storm-water runoff, and transporting and treating wastewater. 

(Source: LEED Schools – Why Green Schools Are So Important? (gbrionline.org))

When I talk to clients, I focus on return on investment (ROI) opportunities, and I stress the importance of discussing options early in the design process. I always encourage them to look beyond the initial costs and think about the long-term benefits.

To help with this, we create a list of Environmental Conservation Measures (ECM), which includes options like better insulation, energy-efficient windows, HVAC systems, water-saving technologies, renewable energy, and more. We present this list to the owner with all the relevant details: upfront costs, ROI, environmental impact, and any scheduling considerations. This way, the client can see all their options side by side and make informed decisions. It also helps us align the design with the owner’s performance goals.

And it’s not just about upfront costs. Maintenance is a big part of the equation too. Whoever is managing the building needs to be able to keep track of how well it’s performing over time. That’s why I always recommend monitoring energy and water usage closely to ensure the building is operating as efficiently as possible.

Kelly: What are the first steps a school district should take when considering LEED certification for a new building?

Sara: The first step is to educate the school district about the benefits of building healthy, sustainable schools. Taking the time to understand the advantages of LEED certification is a valuable investment, and the Center for Green Schools is a great resource to learn how green schools can positively impact both students and the community.

We typically begin with a goal-setting strategy meeting, where we define the owner’s project requirements. For example, we did this with the Shawnee Mission School District before any of their new schools were built. We created a living document that gathered all the relevant details and ensured ongoing communication with district stakeholders. Both the project team and district representatives worked together on this document, and it ultimately guided the design of all five new schools funded by their 2021 bond.

JE Dunn built three new elementary schools for Shawnee Mission School District as a part of their 2021 Bond Issue; John Diemer Elementary School that opened in August of 2023 (shown above), Rushton Elementary School that opened in August of 2024, and Tomahawk Elementary School, which is slated to open in August of 2025.

The advantage of taking this approach across multiple schools is that it creates consistency in how each school is designed, built, and maintained. By streamlining the process, we can clearly outline the owner’s project requirements and communicate essential goals to the design team—whether related to energy, water, waste, health, or certification. This ensures that everyone is aligned and working toward the same objectives from the start.

Kelly: Can you discuss the importance of early planning and involving stakeholders in the LEED certification process?

Sara: There’s a lot of value in planning early—that’s when you’re going to see the biggest cost savings across the board. When we are engaged early in the process, we can make design decisions with the energy modeler and the estimator involved making the whole process smoother and more cost effective.

If you have a savvy team that is familiar with sustainable design, and we get brought in before design documents (DD’s) there is a greater chance of achieving the owner’s performance goals within the schedule and budget. If we got brought on later, say before the end of DD’s, we could still try to pick up the pieces and pull it together pretty quickly but it can be a disadvantage. We prefer to capture the owner’s performance goals early on and manage the process through design and construction seamlessly.

LEED requires that in order to pursue Enhanced Commissioning, a Commissioning Agent should be engaged by 50% of DD’s.

Kelly: Can you share any specific case studies or project stories when pursuing LEED certifications?

Sara: Shawnee Mission School District is a great example of success because they made the decision to pursue LEED certification early on, right after passing their bond. There was tremendous involvement from the community, district leaders, the design team, and the JE Dunn project team throughout the entire process. What made it even more special was that the students had a leadership role. They created an entire program focused on pursuing certification and held several student-led forums, which really pushed the district to stay committed.

JE Dunn built Rushton Elementary School, which opened in August of 2024, as part of the Shawnee Mission School District’s 2021 Bond Issue.

Another powerful aspect is when a school becomes a learning tool. In almost every school project we work on, we don’t just certify it and move on. We always include an educational component to teach students, staff, and visitors about the building’s sustainable features. For instance, we might create a small cutout in a wall that reveals the sustainable materials inside, allowing everyone to literally learn from the building itself. This turns the school into a living, educational resource.

Kelly: If a school district wants to dip their toe into LEED, what would be some best practices you would recommend or a starting point that they could adopt?

Sara: There are many ways to approach this. I always believe that educating people, especially within a school community, is a great idea. Make the process engaging, fun, and tailored to your community! If you know parents are interested, consider hosting an in-person session where an expert can teach and answer questions. Or, if it’s more convenient, record a session and share it online. There are plenty of ways to provide education, but I think the best place to start is by clearing up any misconceptions and myths.

If they’re really curious and want to dive deeper, asking questions specific to their project—like, ‘Do you think we’d qualify?’—that’s where someone like me or another LEED-accredited professional can step in. We can look at the project details, like the school’s location and other key factors, and do an initial assessment of how they might score in terms of LEED points. From there, it’s important to start making decisions as the design team and other members come on board, evaluating their experience and familiarity with LEED and how they can contribute to the certification process.

I don’t like to put cost in the middle of it all because I’ve seen that it’s possible to build a sustainable school without significantly adding to the budget. The only direct costs are the certification fees, which are based on square footage. Soft costs include things like energy modeling, commissioning, and project management for pursuing certification. But beyond that, there are plenty of financial incentives available. Early on, we pull a report of all potential incentives for the project, so we can factor those into the budget from the start.

Kelly: Speaking of myths or misconceptions about LEED certification, are there any in particular that you would like to address?

Sara: The biggest misconception is that LEED certification will completely blow the budget and isn’t cost-effective. But with a savvy team and careful planning, it doesn’t have to be a massive financial burden. If you manage the budget properly—just like any other project—it can be done in a way that doesn’t require a huge capital investment and still have a significant return.

In these tough economic times, cash-strapped schools have found improving the performance of their school facilities is one of the only ways to free up funds for critical expenses like teacher salaries. On average, green schools use 33% less energy and 32% less water than their conventional counterparts, and save $100,000 per year on direct operating costs. This $100,000 per year saved on operating costs is enough money to hire two new teachers, buy 200 computers, or purchase 5,000 textbooks.

(Source: Green School Facts | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org))

If you are interested in pursuing LEED or WELL certification on your next education project, contact Kelly Brucher or Sara Greenwood to learn more about what LEED and WELL certification would look like for you.

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Sara Greenwood
Principal
Greenwood Consulting Group
Kelly Brucher
Client Solutions Manager
Education Group

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