NEWBURYPORT — Students at the Francis T. Bresnahan School were excited as they filed into the gleaming gymnasium of their elementary school on Wednesday morning for a special assembly honoring the green and healthy nature of their building.
When quizzed by Mayor Donna Holaday as to whether they knew what they were celebrating, hands shot up. “We are getting an award for being green,” said one student, describing the water-saving faucets that turn off when you move your hands, and the lights that go off when you leave the room.
“That’s right,” said the mayor, describing the efficient lighting, heating and ventilation, and windows, and noting that “saving water is especially important now because of the drought."
CHPS is a building criteria based on policy requirements including indoor air quality standards; energy and water efficiency principles; renewable technologies; site selection considerations, and materials and innovation.
Carolyn Sarno-Goldthwaite, senior manager of High Performance Buildings at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) and chair of the CHPS board of directors, was on hand to make the presentation.