That being said, constructing a "green" school was not originally on the drawing board, but school officials were definitely open to the idea. It's a good thing they were, because the 43,000-sq-ft school, which was completed in 2003, has become a showcase for integrated green design. Indeed, Clearview, designed by L. Robert Kimball & Associates (Harrisburg, PA), earned Gold-level certification through the USGBC's LEED® Green Building Rating System.
Among the reasons for Clearview's acclaim is the fact that it is expected to use 40% less energy than a comparable conventional school building. This savings is achieved through the use of insulated concrete forms, triple-glazed windows, optimized solar orientation, daylighting, indirect lighting, ground-source heat pumps, and an underfloor air system. These types of components are often considered to be budget-busters, but thanks to the integrated design used at Clearview, the first cost was no more than that of a traditionally built school.