A green school is a place where buildings and surroundings become teaching tools and where integrated teaching experiences dynamically connect the classroom to the real world.

Ruffing Montessori School is a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certified building the first school in the northeast Ohio area and the first building in Cleveland Heights to achieve a LEED rating from the US Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institute. . LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. This certification provides verification that Ruffing meets the highest green building performance quality and integrity standards, employing the most efficient design and state-of-the art green building techniques.

The process to become certified is rigorous, and adherence to specific criteria is carefully assessed. In the USGBC's point system, Ruffing earned points for sustainable site selection, water efficiency, energy performance, reused and recycled materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. The school earned bonus points for its innovative green curriculum, school-wide green initiatives and for exemplary use of recycled materials throughout the new construction project.

For these sustainability efforts, Ruffing was recognized with a 2010 Emerald Award from Crain's Cleveland Business, a 2010 Community Improvement Award from the City of Cleveland Heights, and a 2009 Northeast Ohio Environmental Award by the Biodiversity Alliance, for "innovative curriculum that permeates the whole school.” Our school is also a regular stop on the Northeast Ohio Green Energy Tour.

What makes a building green? In Ruffing's case, the facility is loaded with green features:

• geothermal heating and cooling, which uses the earth's constant temperature to make use of thermal energy generated and stored in the earth;
• photovoltaic (solar) panels installed on all southern exposure roof areas harness 53 kW, enough power to offset up to 25% of the School’s electrical consumption;
• a living roof for added insulation and energy conservation;
• water efficient landscaping;
• rainwater harvesting;
• high efficiency lighting;
• sun tubes and energy efficient windows allow for ample natural lighting;
• low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, carpet tiles and glues;
• natural flooring materials;
• waterless urinals, low-flow toilets, and controlled hand towel dispensers in our bathrooms;
• composting and recycling stations.

Green Curriculum
While many of these features can be found in other LEED Certified buildings and schools across the country, Ruffing's unique green curriculum sets us apart. Beginning with its youngest students, toddlers, and continuing through eighth grade, the program teaches ways energy can be consumed more efficiently and how human choices help or harm the planet. The school has developed a very specific sequenced curriculum, created copyrighted activity-based Montessori-style materials, and uses the building’s green features as a working lab. On every age level, students are introduced to increasingly more complex ideas centered on sustainability, stewardship, and individual responsibility.

In addition to our facility and curriculum, Ruffing’s strives to be green in the following ways:

Green Cleaning Policy
Ruffing uses only safe, non-toxic cleaning products in our daily cleaning services at the school. From our hydrogen peroxide-based all-purpose cleaner down to the laundry soap used in our laundry centers, we have eliminated the use of harmful chemicals known to pose health concerns to individuals, especially those with asthma and allergies. The products we use will not harm the environment either and most are Green Seal approved. Our custodial staff has been trained in the use of these friendlier products and we make a genuine effort to keep harmful chemicals out of our school and classrooms.

Green Procurement Policy
Whenever possible, Ruffing purchases products made from recycled post-consumer materials – like copy paper, hand towels, toner and printer cartridges – and products that are not harmful to humans, animals or the environment.

No Waste Lunches
Ruffing encourages healthy eating habits for life and we teach our students to do their part in preserving the planet by recycling, composting, and packing “no waste” lunches. Our lunch guidelines encourage a reusable lunch box, reusable food containers, cloth napkins, reusable flatware, and above all, good nutritious choices. Our students have calculated that we eliminate more than 13,000 pounds of garbage every school year through our no-waste lunch policy.

Recycling
A group of committed Upper Elementary students collect recycled materials from classrooms each week and encourage everyone at the school to recycle, or better yet, reuse items in the classroom. Three recycling centers are set up throughout the school to collect paper, plastic, glass, newspapers and cardboard.

Integrated Pest Management Program
Similar to our indoor cleaning policy, Ruffing avoids using pesticides and herbicides, as they are known to be harmful to humans, animals and the environment.

We continuously look for ways to become more responsible inhabitants of the earth and to provide a safer learning environment for our students and faculty. Together we are on a mission to transform Ruffing into a brighter shade of green every day.