New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a plan on Tuesday to build a new elementary/ middle school, the city's first-ever entirely "green" public school, in Lower Manhattan.

Construction, which is expected to begin in June 2008, will adhere to environmental guidelines according to Local Law 86 and the New York City Green Schools Rating System.

The new school will reduce energy costs by at least 25 percent through the use of day lighting in all instructional rooms, energy- efficient lighting controlled by occupancy sensors, increased insulation in the exterior walls, carbon-dioxide sensors in large common spaces, and photovoltaics.

Indoor air quality will be enhanced with the use of mold-resistant and low volatile organic compound-emitting materials in the construction.

The school building will conserve water by using 40 percent less potable water through the use of high efficiency plumbing fixtures.

The approximately 125,000 square feet school to be located at 55 Battery Place will have 40 classrooms and add 950 seats, including 100 seats for special education students.

It will have facilities such as a kitchen and cafeteria, medical suite, auditorium, library, wireless Internet access, art, science and music rooms, a 5,400-square-foot gymnasium, and a 1, 500-square-foot exercise room with rooftop educational and recreational spaces.

In recent years, the residential population in Lower Manhattan has increased dramatically, which has also contributed to sizable growth in student enrollment in the area's schools.

In response, the state is providing the last vacant building site in Battery Park City at no cost to the city to begin building the new school. The land will be made available through the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), which owns the site.

Construction is expected to be completed by September 2010. The new school is being designed by Dattner Architects.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2007)