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Aspects of Our Green Campus

Our Green Campus

Windrush School's four-acre, grassy campus reflects the school's conservation ethic and sense of social responsibility. In September 2008, the Windrush Middle School opened in a new, innovative building, featuring seven state-of-the-art classrooms and library. The building helps meet the school's need to expand the academic program to offer an education to more students. It honors the local environment by preserving much of the campus' open space and respects the global environment by minimizing resource use.

By embracing Windrush's bayside environment and employing green building techniques, the two-story structure is 97 percent more energy efficient than a comparably-sized building. Annual energy savings will equate to about $16,000!

School planners meticulously selected the building location to maximize open space on the campus. The building also pays homage to the past by incorporating designs that reflect the historic Chung Mei Home, the campus' other main and original building that served as a home for orphaned and abandoned Chinese boys from 1934 to 1954.

The new building uses sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials and was constructed following guidelines established by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. LEED certification is the national benchmark for green building design, construction and operation, providing independent third-party verification a structure meets the highest performance standards. The building minimized non-renewable resource use during its construction, a practice that will continue throughout the structure's life.

Green Techniques

  • Skylights and windows reduce electric light usage.
  • Windows and skylights alleviate need for air conditioners by harnessing bay breeze.
  • Radiant floor heat consumes less energy.
  • Insulated concrete forms reduce deforestation by minimizing wood use and increase insulation of walls and roof.
  • Water efficient fixtures use 50 percent less water
  • Sustainable and recycled construction materials and furnishings lessen overall impacts
  • Solar panels generate electricity
  • Overall building design-light-colored concrete and roofing material as well as landscaping reduces heat production. 
  • Alternative transportation encouraged-bike racks added instead of more parking spaces. Fuel-efficient vehicles have parking priority.


Landscaping also plays an integral role in reducing environmental impacts. Plants collect and redirect rain water, while treating and reducing water entering El Cerrito's storm water system. Roof plants cool the building through evaporation and drought tolerant plants around the building require little or no irrigation. The landscape also will attract birds and other wildlife.