Early Engagement in Planning Recommendations

350 Hinckley engaged with the Highland Board of Education in the early planning stages of three new elementary schools in Granger, Hinckley and Sharon townships. The Board contracted with GPD Group of Akron, Ohio to design the new schools. 350 Hinckley initiated discussions with GPD to encourage the Board to consider passive solar and geothermal cooling (earth-sheltering) in the design of the Hinckley Elementary building for energy efficiency and conservation.

We were successful encouraging the Board to change the initial design-orientation for the Hinckley Elementary from north-south to an east-west orientation creating a large south-facing roof that could better accommodate the future installation of a solar energy array. We continued to focus on the Hinckley Elementary School.

350 Hinckley made several presentations at Monthly Board Meetings to obtain an exterior design that is as energy efficient as possible and can accommodate advancements in technology along the way.

We approved of the Board’s plans to use construction materials from recycled sources wherever possible in the new schools, for example, all the acoustical ceiling tiles would have a significant recycled material content.

Safety First

As the Board had to give first consideration to overall safety features and security systems, there was a secondary focus on designing for superior natural daylighting and installing improved energy-efficient equipment.

We encouraged the Board to investigate porous pavers for the sidewalks, permeable pavement for the parking lots of the Hinckley Elementary. They also considered buried conduits for the future addition of electric vehicle recharging stations.

As the pandemic strengthened in early 2020, the Board rescheduled meetings and went virtual suspending public participation at Board Meetings. 350 Hinckley limited our engagement so the Board could concentrate on safely educating our children while satisfying the voters who supported the levy for building the three schools.

Sustainable Landscaping

350 Hinckley obtained the final landscaping plans for the Hinckley Elementary from GPD and were pleased to see hardscaping and almost all plantings were native shrubs and trees. Native species have the best opportunity to survive disease free without watering and low maintenance. All the wetland areas were maintained and the unused perimeter areas were preserved and allowed to grow back to the newly landscaped area helping to minimize the yard maintenance.

The new schools were completed in time and opened for the 2021-2022 school year. The Highland Board and Teachers held an open house September 25, 2021 to show off the beautiful new state-of-the art schools.

Ongoing Engagement

While our success to bring overall sustainability designs to the schools was limited, 350 Hinckley will continue to engage with the Board on all issues concerning sustainability and renewable energy.