State, county consider ?green? schools mandate

A Baltimore County lawmaker is endorsing a more stringent version of Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposal requiring all new public schools to have eco-friendly bells and whistles such as waterless urinals, rain-catching roofs and geothermal heating.

A Senate committee Wednesday heard testimony in support of both proposals, which backers said will eventually save state and local governments money on energy bills. Under O?Malley?s proposal, all new and significantly renovated state buildings must meet federal “green” guidelines by 2009 and all publicly funded new schools must meet them by 2010.