This test item bank is intended to help instructors construct criterion-referenced tests for secondary-level courses in building trades. The bank is keyed to the Missouri Building Trades Competency Profile, which was developed by industry and education professionals in Missouri, and is designed to be used in conjunction with the Vocational…

This report deals with a preliminary investigation of the problems associated with the determination of the total life costs of buildings, including cyclical renewal. It discusses also the benefits to be derived from this information, using life costs of a selected building as an example. The first portion of the publication considers problems in…

The ancient Athenian "agora" functioned as a marketplace for ideas and commerce and offered an ideal place for teaching and learning. This digest suggests adapting such a model to modern needs and describes successful small schools that have done so while reducing costs. Research shows that small schools offer many advantages for…

A methodology to develop an easy-to-use toolkit for the preliminary design of high performance schools in hot and humid climates was presented. The toolkit proposed in this research will allow decision makers without simulation knowledge easily to evaluate accurately energy efficient measures for K-5 schools, which would contribute to the…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 challenged educational leadership across the nation to ensure that every student either met or exceeded standards by the year 2014. The call to realize world class standards was inspiring on one hand and daunting on the other, especially for urban school leaders who were under prepared for the challenges they…

The impact of the superintendent in the design decision-making process of sustainable school buildings was examined in this study to determine whether superintendents who have more knowledge and commitment to sustainability have a greater influence on green building practices within their school districts than those who do not. Utilizing a…

In the United States, 21% of all energy is used in residential buildings (40% of which is for heating and cooling homes). Promising improvements in residential building energy efficiency are underway such as the Building America Program and the Passive House Concept. The ability of improving energy efficiency in buildings is enhanced by building…

The numbers of workers in the residential construction industry are on the rise. Falls have continually been the largest contributor to residential construction worker deaths and injuries. These workers are largely self-employed or working for small companies. These individuals are difficult to reach through traditional methods. This research…

Technical assistance (TA) has long been a standard, overarching strategy for assisting, states, agencies, family members, and practitioners with building capacity for service and system change initiatives. But, what is meant by the term "technical assistance"? What is known about the technical assistance strategies that are likely to…

Presents an overview of variables worthy of attention when considering the revitalization of existing educational facilities. (Author/DN)

Written for both students and practitioners, this book is a comprehensive treatise on the planning, remodeling, and maintenance of educational facilities. The subject matter is organized to blend theory and practice. Part I deals primarily with theory, principles, and techniques of educational facilities planning, covering school building history,…

An account of the renovation of the Office of the Registrar at the University of California, Davis, is presented. The task was to redesign existing space to utilize it more effectively; the ultimate goal was to better serve the university community. Placing units that were functionally interdependent in closer proximity and arranging high volume…

Analyzed is the energy management program implemented in 1984 at the Akron Public Schools of Ohio. The program was implemented to address the problems of rising utilities costs and uncontrollable energy use. Background information ranging from simple attendance statistics to the utilities budget are provided as well as the procedure for choosing…

Six different energy-saving treatments for large window areas were tested by Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TCCC) to coordinate energy saving with building design. The TCCC building has an open space design with 33,000 square feet of external glass and other features causing heating problems and high energy costs. Phase I of the…

The technical feasibility and economic benefits of an Integrated Utility System (IUS) at the University of Florida are addressed, as are the environmental and institutional factors. This study demonstrates a conservational and economic advantage in supplying the energy necessary for heating and cooling as a by-product of power generation. Contents…