Private school pursues Earth-friendly learning environment

In the green room at New Horizons Academy, students walk on carpet manufactured from recycled soda bottles.

They learn in natural light collected by a solar dish and piped indoors via fiber-optic cables.

They're surrounded by walls coated in nontoxic paint.

If the private K-12 school can raise $795,000 by Sept. 1, New Horizons' one green classroom will be replicated campuswide.

"We're small, but it's a global effort," teacher Donna Gannon said Tuesday.

New Horizons chose Earth Day to announce both its fundraising effort and its intent to become the most eco-friendly school in Nevada.

Jan McAdams, the academy's green building project adviser, said the goal is to create a campus of the future where energy costs are zero and where classroom materials are chemical-free.

The academy also plans to pursue the highest operating standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council -- a platinum certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.

"We want to give our students the best possible learning environment," said Roger Gehring, the academy's executive director.

The small school on West Charleston Boulevard, east of Rainbow Boulevard, serves students with learning disabilities and operates as a nonprofit entity.

Gehring said he's looking forward to reduced utility costs in a facility equipped to harvest daylight and harness solar power.

More importantly, he's eager to offer students a cleaner, greener place to learn. Many of the students who attend New Horizons have allergies or other conditions that are aggravated by exposure to certain chemicals commonly used in paints, carpeting, furniture and building materials.

"This isn't really about a building," Gehring said. "This is about improving instruction for kids."

The effort has garnered political support from Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, who read aloud a proclamation declaring Tuesday "New Horizons Academy Day," to Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who sent the school a letter of support.

Tarkanian was a friend of academy founder Theresa Smith, who died in January. Tarkanian said Smith would have supported and applauded the effort to go green.

"If she were here today, her heart would be full," she said.

Tarkanian also suggested that the Clark County School District look at building more eco-friendly schools.

District spokeswoman Leah Marchione said school construction staffers always are looking at ways to be more energy-efficient. Water conservation also is a priority, driving the district's decision to go with desert landscaping on new campuses.

School prototypes now include extensive use of daylight, automatic lighting controls, and monitors of indoor carbon dioxide levels. Marchione said low-flow fixtures minimize the district's use of water.

Several district schools also are trying to obtain certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, Marchione said. The Northwest Career and Technical Academy is trying to meet silver certification standards. Miley Achievement Center is seeking a general certification.

Those wishing to learn more about New Horizon's building plan can call 407-7888.

Contact reporter Lisa Kim Bach at lbach@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0287.