Tom Baker & Associates make going green a priority
June 30, 2013Hilliard Trash and Recycling Update
October 17, 2013
Big Darby Creek is one of the most biologically diverse aquatic systems in the Midwest, and when Bradley High School opened its’ doors to students in 2009 the unique environmental features also opened opportunities for the students. The rain gardens, wetlands, and associated wildlife, provide outdoor biology laboratories for students interested in environmental or biology-related college majors.
Picture of Bradley High School showing rain garden and wetland channel adjacent to the parking lot.
During the design phase of building construction, the school followed guidelines set by the Big Darby Accord to preserve the area’s watershed. Some of the grounds surrounding the building were planted with grasses and trees two years before the school opened to allow the vegetation to become fully established. All of these green landscape features contribute to the extensive storm water management system designed to improve the quality of the water flow to Big Darby Creek. Water stagnation is minimized by the different depths and cut outs of the wetland channels and ponds, and the baseball and softball fields are maintained without the use of chemicals.
Bradley HS recently earned the Federal Energy Star Rating for meeting strict energy performance standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Within the building, reduced-flow plumbing fixtures conserve water and automatic fluorescent lightbulbs conserve energy. According to Energy Star, facilities with this rating are less expensive to operate and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions. There are more than 4,000 public and non-public schools in Ohio, and Bradley is proud to be one of only 215 that have earned the Energy Star rating.
Through the efforts of the Bradley PTO and science teacher Brian Gerber, a SWACO grant was awarded to the school to fund their recycling program. Along with recycling containers and an awareness banner for the football stadium, Bradley HS celebrates National Recycling Week every year to continue to educate and make students aware of the positive effects of recycling.
