Balfour Beatty Construction credited with helping Oak Park Unified School District win Green award
November 23, 2011
Balfour Beatty Construction played a key role in helping the Oak Park Unified School District win a Green Schools Leadership Award. The award, presented at the Green Schools California Summit, recognizes outstanding accomplishments in environmental sustainability at California K-12 schools.
We credit Balfour Beatty Construction for helping us win this prestigious award by providing us with the knowledge to incorporate sustainable solutions into six of our modernization projects under the Measure R Bond Program,” said Dr. Tony Knight, superintendent, Oak Park Unified School District. “Many of these schools are now benefiting from sustainable innovations such as cool roofs that will save us both energy and money - as much as $12,000 a year in energy cost savings. Other schools also now have infiltration bioswales installed into school parking lots which absorb and clean storm water run-off, then filter it back into the watershed.”
The sustainability enhancements don’t stop at cool roofs and infiltration bioswales. The schools also received programmable digital HVAC thermostats to maximize energy efficiency, the replacement of all interior light bulbs with more efficient bulbs, and overall maintenance of main electrical systems for optimal operation.
Participating schools include: Brookside Elementary School, Oak Hills Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School, Medea Creek Middle School, Oak Park High School, Oak View High School, and the Oak Park District Office.
The Green Schools Leadership Award was presented to Oak Park Unified School District on October 17, 2011. The School District was also recognized at the Green Schools California Summit for its ongoing efforts to serve as a community leader in environmental awareness and sensitivity. Specifically, the District incorporates environmental education in its instruction program, utilizes organic fertilizers for grounds and turf, utilizes green and safe cleaning products, and has implemented a natural and sustainable food service program. These and other measures were recognized as ways the District is setting a good example for students and other districts by committing to making changes for greener campuses.
“We are honored to work alongside the Oak Park Unified School District and congratulate them for winning this award,” said Eric Stenman, Regional CEO for Balfour Beatty Construction. “Our company is committed to providing sustainable solutions for our clients and we appreciate the opportunity to share in the collective responsibility of building a more sustainable future in our local communities.” he added.
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About Balfour Beatty Construction
A leader in the U.S. commercial construction industry, Balfour Beatty Construction provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services through more than 2,400 professionals nationwide. For the past two years, the company has been cited as a Top 10 Green Builder by
Engineering-News Record and as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For® by
FORTUNE magazine. The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global leader in professional services, construction services, support services, and infrastructure investment, with more than $18 billion in annual revenues. To learn more about the company and its subsidiary , Howard S. Wright, visit
balfourbeattyus.com.
In the southwest, formerly known as Barnhart Balfour Beatty, Balfour Beatty Construction (License #439407) is one of the largest education builders in the country, with extensive experience on military projects and an award-winning portfolio of government and healthcare projects. To learn more, visit
http://www.balfourbeattyus.com/southwest.
About Oak Park School District
The Oak Park Unified School District currently serves approximately 4,200 K-12 students in Ventura County, California. Student performance levels in the District are ranked higher than any other school district in the county. Class sizes are among the lowest in the county and the state. Oak Park embraces a holistic approach to education that is reflected in its concern for student wellness. For example, in addition to the green building practices, there are several organic school gardens that service the student nutrition program and a robust recycling program. The District uses only organic fertilizers for turf as part of its
regenerative landscape concept. Students take field trips to the local Channel Islands National Park where they observe endangered and endemic species and join efforts to protect them.
To learn more, visit: http://www.oakparkusd.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1
National Media Inquiries:
Local Media Inquiries:
Amy Savlov
Public Relations Manager
Balfour Beatty Construction
San Diego, CA