Desert Edge High School
Desert Edge High School is the first public school building to earn LEED Silver level certification in the State of Arizona. Green Ideas integrated several sustainable strategies into the design, development and construction of the High School focused on water and energy conservation, along with superior Indoor Environmental Quality. Over a twenty year period the District will save over $1,235,000 in tax dollars on heating, cooling and water costs alone due to the high-performance building design. Because of a strong commitment from the School District and the entire project team, the Desert Edge High School expansion project was completed four weeks ahead of schedule and $450,000 under budget. It is the winner of Valley Forward’s 26th Annual Environmental Excellence Award and Southwest Contractor’s Best of 2006 Arizona Award for “Green Building: Public Projects.”
Sustainable Strategies
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Landscape design uses native and drought-tolerant plantings that do not require an irrigation system
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Comprehensive Recycling, Green Housekeeping and Education Programs were implemented to minimize ongoing environmental impacts
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Low VOC-emitting materials for the building’s interior creates enhanced Indoor Environmental Quality
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High-performance, reflective roofing system reduces the Urban Heat Island Effect
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Low-flow fixtures reduce domestic water use
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Building materials with high-recycled content were sourced from local vendors
Project Results
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LEED for New Construction SILVER level achieved
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28% energy cost savings above ASHRAE 90.1-1999 energy standard
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91% savings in potable water used for irrigation
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38% reduction in potable water for domestic use
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84% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill
