Learning Care Group News: August 6, 2014
MELVILLE, NY., August 6, 2014 — Tutor Time of Melville is bringing the lessons of sustainability to life – providing excellence in early education and child care in an innovative green learning environment. The building is the first child care facility in New York to fully utilize geothermal heating and cooling to operate on solar electricity with an expected Gold Standard LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Tutor Time of Melville worked with Horizon Engineering Associates, LLC to ensure that the building design, installation, and operation deliver outstanding quality and optimum energy efficiency. To regulate air quality, the building “envelope” has been sealed with spray foam for tight insulation. Fresh air is brought in through high-density filters in the building’s energy recovery ventilators, supported by carbon dioxidesensors, to help provide a comfortable environment.
“We’re proud to be able to provide a healthy school environment where children can not only learn about renewable energy, but experience it first-hand,” said Gary Beltrani, co-owner, Tutor Time of Melville. “In addition to providing healthier air, we’re conserving our natural resources.”
The zero-emission building is expected to have a zero-energy classification, meaning that the total amount of energy consumed yearly is equal to the renewable energy it creates. Using a GreenLogic solar PV system, the school delivers a carbon footprint offset that’s the equivalent to planting 35 acres of trees. No fossil fuels are used to heat or cool the building. The practice of building “green” has been shown to offer the following benefits:
- Healthier building environment
- Improved air circulation and acoustics
- Reduction in water usage
- Reduced operating expenditure for energy
- Reduced maintenance costs
“By experiencing a green learning environment, our children can develop a deeper level of understanding about sustainability that will impact them throughout their lives,” said Reed Fedner, co-owner, Tutor Time of Melville.
Find out more about Tutor Time of Melville by visiting www.tutortimemelville.com
