Chamber of Commerce

Cumberland County prepares to open its first green school in fall 2010. New Century International Elementary features some of the same environmentally-friendly features as the new PWC building. “Every aspect of the building was thought out in terms of sensitivity to environmental impact,” said Robert Ferris of SFL+A Architects. “Everything from the landscaping, to how the pavement is laid out, to the adhesives used inside the building, to the use of renewable resources, it was all taken into account when designing the building.” The school-library complex cost almost $17 million to build. But Parsons points out Schools Cumberland County is the fourth largest public school system in North Carolina. Visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us. One of the most popular features is the Governed Choice Program: Elementary Schools: Montessori Communications Year-Round Studies Primary 1 Math and Natural Science Core Knowledge Accelerated Learning Math and Science Language Immersion Middle Schools Global Communications Classical Year-Round Year-Round Math and Science Multiple Intelligences High Schools Academy of Agriculture School of the Arts Classical Studies Early College Academy of Engineering Technologies Academy of Finance Academy of Fire Science Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Academy of Global Studies Health and Life Sciences Academy of Health Sciences Academy of Information Technology Academy of Applied Engineering International Baccalaureate Academy Academy of Math and Science Academy of Natural Sciences Academy of Public Safety and Security 34 | Accents • 2010 - 2011 that upfront costs shouldn’t be the primary concern when constructing green buildings or taking on other environmentally-responsible projects. The cost of building with recycled, renewable or energy-efficient products typically runs a bit higher than typical construction, but proponents of green construction point to the savings over the life of the building, making it a no-brainer for new buildings and homes. That’s why the recent Green Business Conference was so important. Much of the symposium focused on how local governments can work with federal and state agencies, as well as private business, to spur green development. “In tough times … local governments struggle to do green things because they’re not viewed as the basic things that local government has to do,” Parsons said. “It’s been a tough year, but a good portion of federal stimulus funds is going to green technology and growing green technology. That’s going to help a lot.” [IN SESSION] New Century International Elementary School Renderings courtesy of SFL+A Architects

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