GROUNDED PODCAST: New Day School + Green Hammer = Oregon's First Net-Zero Preschool
ON THIS EPISODE OF GROUNDED, WE LEARN ABOUT OREGON’S FIRST NET-ZERO PRESCHOOL WITH NEW DAY SCHOOL teacher, Didi Jayagiita AND GREEN HAMMER TEAM members, LAURA SQUILLACE AND ALEX BOETZEL.
In 2019, the more than 40-year-old New Day School began a renovation to become Oregon’s very first zero-energy preschool. In this episode, we first learn about the renovation and what this meant for the teachers and students from educator and long time environmentalist, Didi Jayagiita. Jayagiita is a also a musician, yogi, scientist, and passionate nature lover. She brings these passions to the classroom by teaching the children yoga and meditation, offering original music, and sharing her enthusiasm for nature and sustainable practices.
In the second half of this episode, we sit with Laura Squillace and Alex Boetzel from Green Hammer to explore the designer’s perspective and dig deeper into the project. Laura earned her Masters in Architecture from the University of Oregon. She also studied environmental sciences and illustration, both of which inspire her work as a designer. Alex Boetzel, a native Berliner, has over 25 years experience in construction and building science, and has consulted on dozens of LEED, Passivhaus, high-performance and green residential projects in the US as well as in Europe.
Resources:
New Day School on Sustainability
Green Hammer New Day School Case Study
"New Day School: Oregon's first net-zero preschool” KGW.com
Energy Efficient Schools Program, Oregon Department of Energy
