Today we gathered in front of the Chipeta Elementary School in Grand Junction, CO for a very special ceremony. On this day, community members, teachers, the principal, construction workers and a sustainability team were recognized for coming together and making a long needed change in the building process of a very important place . . . a school where many children in Grand Junction will spend a good part of their days. They pursued LEED certification, though there was resistance at first due to the cost of the certification. In the long run, all involved are pleased that the LEED certification was followed through with, and community members are waiting to see if the school will be rated silver or gold under LEED standards.
Though the kids attending Chipeta may not recognize the significance of this step with the construction of their new building, they will be more alert during classes from the increased fresh air flow in the building as well as healthier overall surrounded by building materials that do not release toxic gases over time, as many traditional materials do.
It was an honor to have Rolland McCool present at the event to congradulate all involved in the planning of Chipeta Elementary, named for his great grandmother Chipeta of the Ute tribe. He was pleased to see that his tribe's values of using only what we need of the natural resources available was being considered in the community.
Above: Rolland McCool and Frank Smith, organizer of WCC.
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