Print
Email
Share

Seattle private school a 'living building'

by GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

Bio | Email | Follow: @gchittimK5

KING5.com

Posted on February 10, 2011 at 7:51 PM

SEATTLE -- The Pacific Northwest has its share of green buildings, but there's a Seattle school taking that philosophy to the next level.

Students at the Bertschi School aren't the first to have their electricity supplied by solar panels and their roof covered in plant life, but they are the first on the west coast to go to school in a "living building."

The building produces everything it uses, meaning net zero energy consumption, and no water is piped in or out for net zero water.

The school collects and treats their own sewage for compost and landscape watering.

When it rains, a river runs through the school to its own water supply.

It's a system that fits the philosophy of the school's founder, Brigitte Bertschi, like a glove.

Bertschi is private school, but in order to earn the "living school" title it must serve the community. The school will begin to offer a schedule of public events.

Print
Email
Share
 

To add a comment, please register or login.

1000 characters remaining

Submit

We welcome your comments on this story's topic. Off-topic comments, personal attacks, and inappropriate language may be flagged and removed, and comment privileges blocked, per our Terms of Service. Thanks for keeping the comments space respectful.

Privacy Policy