Long before anyone finds out about Copenhagen’s jazz festival, business school, fashion week, zoo or even contemporary, Celtic and post, they learn about Copenhagen International School. Enter the name of the Danish capital in Google and see what comes first!
Copenhagen International School is prominent in every way: its educational expertise, its close and welcoming community, the way its students take responsibility locally and globally and – last but not least – sustainability.
Around 25,000 sqm in size, its new premises are truly a building of the future. A thriving ground for innovation and creativity, it is no wonder that so many of its students shine so brightly when completing their education.
Worth the sea view
The building, which officially opened in January 2017, is almost completely covered by a solar panel faรงade that has the ability to produce about 50 percent of the school’s energy consumption.
The 12,000 solar panels were specially designed for the building to produce electricity to service CIS ‘bid to be energy efficient.
However, there was also a lot of thought in that they looked visually appealing. Due to the lack of variation in solar panels that existed at the time, they got a green / blue hue similar to the sea that surrounds the building along with a sloping position to give the exterior of the building a more interesting look.
On, fed, cooled
The solar faรงade is perhaps the most conspicuous environmentally conscious element, but certainly not the only one.
The school cafeteria is also very environmentally conscious as none of the leftovers are thrown away. When the children have finished eating, their leftovers are used for biogas and / or fed to animals. The biogas can e.g. Used to operate the blue buses in Copenhagen.
The building is completely lit by LED lights, which are far more energy efficient than ordinary light bulbs, making them much better for the environment.
The school is also so well insulated that it requires a cooling system. The cooling system draws fresh air in from the roof, where it is always cooler, to ventilate without active cooling (which would use much more energy). In addition, a 3x air exchange ensures that the indoor environment contributes to learning.
The next generation
So what kind of impact does this have? Apart from the obvious positive impact of composting and solar energy, it is also crucial to place children in an environmentally conscious and responsible atmosphere.
In a world where global warming is advancing at a rapid pace, action must be taken immediately and it must start at a young age. When children are brought up in environments where sustainability is a priority, it is natural to assume that they are learning the value and significance of it.
And what we need now is more people growing up with the understanding that we need to take action to save the planet.
Healthy children
And it does not stop there, as children’s health is paramount. Not only is the food they eat both fresh and healthy, but their classrooms are lit up in such a way as to optimize their work levels.
Almost all classrooms are located in corners of the building to maximize the amount of natural light they receive. When children are exposed to lots of bright light, it makes them happier, more energetic and more likely to focus.
In addition, the teaching is mostly furnished (floors, cupboards, cupboards, etc.) using sustainable materials such as wood, which is better for both the students’ well-being and the environment.
Location, location …
The school is significantly located in Nordhavn, a fast-growing area in Copenhagen with a focus on sustainability, where the blue undertones from the solar panel faรงade have become something of a poster girl for the district.
Nordhavn intends to become completely carbon neutral. It has become much easier to cycle and use public transport than to drive and thus promote emission-free modes of transport.
A new metro station, opened just minutes away from the CIS, makes it easy for students to use public transportation instead of being driven to school.
It has further strengthened the school’s status as a pioneer in sustainable architecture and education, and the benefits of this have already begun to manifest themselves. As the century unfolds, expect to see more institutions follow in their own sustainable and green future.
Anna Maryam Smith, a graduate of Copenhagen International School in 2019, has just started her second year at Wellesley College in Boston, where she is studying liberal arts.
Source: The Nordic Page