Montgomery County School Board members could decide today whether to pay more than a half-million dollars to make their two, soon-to-be-built elementary schools look environmentally attractive.

The board will consider using geothermal heating methods in the new schools in Prices Fork and Elliston, which could cost about $500,000 per building to implement, as well as try for a $50,000 certification called LEED.

Early estimates say each school could cost about $24 million to construct.

Frank Moeller, project manager at Roanoke-based Spectrum Design, is expected to tell board members what they would save in future energy costs if the schools used geothermal technology. Historically, he said, geothermal heating has provided schools with a 20 percent savings. The heating and cooling system controls temperature without burning fossil fuels with a loop of underground pipes that use the earth's ability to retain coolness and project heat.

Other school systems, such as Pulaski County's, have looked at implementing the system. The new Riverlawn Elementary School, expected to open this fall in Fairlawn, will be built with it.

The U.S. Green Building Council created the LEED rating system -- or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- in 1998. It sets standards for environmentally-friendly construction. While the schools were being constructed, contractors would follow those guidelines. Then an independent auditor would review the school.

More than 14,000 projects have been designated with the seal, according to the council.

"A lot of people are doing bits and pieces of what you'd call green design," said Chris Venable, an architect at Spectrum. "Going through one of the [LEED] systems is a good way to evaluate the options. But you don't have to go through LEED to have a green building. But it's kind of the benchmark."

Even so, one school board member is skeptical of the expense.

"I don't see any real benefit to it," said board Chairman Wendell Jones. "It sounds like we're paying $50,000 to get a certification that says we're a LEED school and that's it. What benefits do I get from that?"

A few schools system across the state have gained the certification, but it's mostly taking off among colleges, Moeller said.

He concedes that the benefits of the certification are intangible, and said it's a good public relations move that indicates a school system is serious about going green. In the end, a school project can be built with some environmentally-friendly resources without the certification.

"I don't think we've got the money for that kind of public relations," Jones said.

The heating project holds more promise in Jones' eyes. He said he wants the county to explore the options, although he worries about replacement and maintenance costs down the line.

Board members have seen little in the way of presentation on the issue, and not all of them said they are willing to vote tonight.

Joe Ivers, who said he wants the county to be as "green as possible," said his decision will depend on ensuring that the system wouldn't take away from teacher pay increases.

"You can't go wrong with geothermal heating," he said. "It looks like it's the wave of the future, even though it's been around for a while."

Board member Penny Franklin said she welcomes the greener heating measures.

"It sounds like a great idea if you have the right conditions," she said.

Also tonight, the board will have a public hearing on its $100 million operating budget.