Designed With Sustainability In Mind

The Kona School will incorporate sustainability and ecological design in our building and operating process.  Our architecture and energy conservation plan will highlight LEED energy-savings and utilize environmentally friendly materials.  Not only will we build with recycled shipping containers, we will also incorporate solar panels, natural lighting, water saving appliances and low-impact landscaping.

Architecture and Achievement

The condition of school facilities is one of the most influential factors when evaluating academic achievement.[1] With this in mind, The Kona School has collaborated with architects to create a campus that is designed to inspire students to be creative and forward thinking. In a report compiled by the American Association of School Administrators, it was stated that:

Students are more likely to prosper when their environment is conducive to learning. Architecture can be designed to support greater safety and security. Environmentally responsive heating, air conditioning and ventilating systems, for example, either in a new or renovated school, provide a more comfortable learning environment. Such well-designed systems send a powerful message to kids about the importance their community places on education.[2]

Every aspect of The Kona School’s campus communicates the importance of excellence in education. Utilizing steel intermodal containers, recycled shipping containers, is an innovative idea that is both economical and environmentally friendly. The result is a student-friendly, ‘cool’ place to learn. We also believe it important to communicate to our students that simple everyday efforts can have real impact here in Jacksonville.  Our students will actively participate in the following types of programs:

• Encourage students to pledge their commitment to recycling.
• Incorporate “Kona Seed Trips” – interactive trips to local farms to allow an introduction to sustainable farming and livestock care.
• “Caught-Green-Handed”– Contest randomly award students/faculty/staff seen recycling, ride-sharing, or biking to campus.
• Post creative student-designed signage around campus as an outreach tool.
• Use student-lead social media to promote our green campus.
• Hold special events to get students and staff excited about recycling.
• Involve student organizations to help spread the word.