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Sustainable Fieldston FAQs

Sustainable Fieldston
- What is the so-called urban heat island effect, and how does it affect the environment? How does Sustainable Fieldston address this problem?
  - In urban areas, buildings, streets, and sidewalks absorb heat from the sun during the day and release that heat at night. As a result, the air over and around a city may be as much as 20 degrees warmer at night than the air around suburban or rural areas. This contributes to global warming, both directly and indirectly.
    See how the new features on the Fieldston campus address this problem.
- What’s a green roof? What is happening on the lower and upper green roofs of Fieldston Middle?
  - A green roof is covered with a layer of vegetation. It keeps the building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and can reduce water runoff. On the lower and upper green roofs, there are two different experiments going on. On the upper roof sophisticated instruments will measure heat in and around the roof compared to that on an adjacent black roof and white roof. The lower roof features a longterm study examining the feasibility of using native plants on green roofs.
    Additional Resources:
    Green Roof Poster
    Green Roof Video
- What is the power used in the middle school?
  - The power used is 100% “green energy” — 100% wind energy. The generation of wind electricity releases no carbon dioxide, the gas most responsible for global warming.
    
    Additional Resources:
    Green Power Poster
- How do motion sensors conserve energy?
  - Is there any point to having the lights on when no one is there? In the new Fieldston spaces, if the room is unoccupied for more than seven minutes, the lighting automatically shuts off.
    Additional Resources:
    Motion Sensors Poster
- How do heat pumps help save energy?
  - Buildings heat and cool unevenly. For example, the east face of the middle school will be naturally warmed on a winter morning, while the west face will stay cold. Heat pumps transfer extra warmth to the colder areas and balance out the temperature.
    Additional Resources:
    Heat Pumps & Heat Exchange Poster
- How do the school’s old and new plumbing devices compare?
  - The older toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush, while the new ones only use 1.6 gallons. The old showerheads released 4 to 7 gallons per minute, while the new ones shut off at 70 seconds, after 3 gallons. The new faucets release 1 gallon per minute, in contrast to the old faucets that release up to 5 gallons per minute.
    
    Additional Resources:
    Water Use Poster
- How do waterless urinals help?
  - They require no water energy at all.
    
    Additional Resources:
    Waterless Urinals Poster
    How do Waterless Urinals Work?
- Exactly how do waterless urinals work?
  - They do not flush. Since urine is denser than the sealant in the toiler, it flows under the sealant. Here is a diagram that shows how waterless urinals work.
- What is certified wood and how is it used at Fieldston?
  - Certified wood is guaranteed to have come from forests or tree sources that are managed in an environmentally responsible fashion.
    
    Additional Resources:
    Certified Wood Poster

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	33 Central Park West New York, NY 10023 (212) 712-6220	3901 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471 (718) 329-7310	3901 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471 (718) 329-7300	3901 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471 (718) 329-7300
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