Deane Evans, Executive Director, Center for Architecture and Building Science Research, New Jersey Institute of Technology.

"High performance school" refers to the physical facility, the school building, and its grounds. High performance schools often have features such as energy efficient design and operation, use of environmentally preferable building materials, healthy indoor air quality, and easy maintenance. Good teachers and motivated students can overcome inadequate facilities and perform at a high level almost anywhere, but a well-designed facility can truly enhance performance and make education a more enjoyable and rewarding experience. Creating one is not difficult, but it requires an integrated, "whole building" approach to the design process. Key systems and technologies must be considered together, from the beginning of the design process.

Mr. Evans has over 20 years of experiencein the private and public sectorsin architectural design, construction technology and building performance. He will define a healthy, high performing school, discuss the benefits, and explain the process by which schools can be designed or retrofitted to become healthy and high performing.

This webcast is part of the Childrens Health Month 2006: Promoting Healthy School Environments

Children spend a significant portion of their time in schoolsmore than in any other environment other than their homes. Childrens Health Month is a perfect opportunity to learn more about improving the health of your school environments. View information from EPA on healthy school environments.

To celebrate Childrens Health Month 2006, EPAs Office of Childrens Health Protection and Environmental Education (OCHPEE) is planning a series of webcasts on topics related to healthy school environments. During the webcasts, participants are connected through the telephone and an internet connection on the computer and will be able to participate in the discussion and ask questions of the speakers. OCHPEE has developed a list of EPA publications on healthy school environments that are available for download or to order as well as a calendar with a children's environmental health tip for every day in October.

To sign up for the Children's Health Month webcasts, send an email (with the date of the webcast in which you would like to participate) to ICF International at chm@icfi.com. ICF is a contractor to EPA supporting the webcasts. You will receive a confirmation and specific instructions by return email.

This information provided courtesy of the IPM Institute

Email: chm@icfi.com

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