School infrastructure is a key factor in student learning. The quality of school facilities can lead to increased attendance rates; adequate comfort conditions have a positive impact on academic performance; and resilient design ensures the continuity of educational services in the face of extreme weather events, which are worsening due to climate change.
The publication "Green Schools: Guidelines for the design of sustainable, low-carbon, and resilient school infrastructure" proposes a series of measures for designing school facilities that are both sustainable and resilient. It presents sustainable design strategies tailored to the different climate zones of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), along with resilient design approaches based on specific hazard types. The comprehensive application of these strategies not only aims to create low- or zero-energy school infrastructure, but also to contribute to global targets and pathways toward carbon neutrality by 2050. To promote long-term sustainability, the guide also includes good practices for the construction and maintenance phases, supporting an integrated approach that spans the entire life cycle of school infrastructure.
This guide is intended to serve as a planning tool for a wide range of public and private stakeholders. At the same time, it seeks to become a vehicle for awareness and educational engagementhelping to build the skills needed to protect natural resources and foster active learning experiences beyond the classroom.