By Roderick McClain
08-26-10 – As students and teachers return to Snipes Academy of Art and Design this week they're finding brand new buildings and energy.
The new classrooms have big windows for daylighting and energy efficient artificial lighting.
Recent research out of the U.S Department of Energy suggests daylighting may increase student test scores and attendance. Eddie Anderson is the Director of Facility Planning & Construction for New Hanover County School District.
He says the new campus is now the district's flagship.
"Snipes is the most comprehensive approach to design and construction of a green, sustainable school that the school system has undertaken."
The lunchroom recycles everything but food scraps, and Anderson says the New Hanover School District is currently in talks with local composting companies.
Here's a research report about the benefits of daylight in schools from the U.S. Department of Energy.