Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, the first carrier to broadly offer green insurance in the U.S. commercial marketplace, is extending its Green-Gard coverage to schools -- public and private facilities, colleges and universities, and trade and vocational institutions.

The firm announced the expansion of its green building insurance program last week in the latest upgrade to the company's green insurance business, which has grown steadily in the past four years.

Now schools, like commercial buildings, will be able to:

• Replace standard systems and materials with green alternatives after a loss.
• In the event of a total loss, rebuild as a green certified building.
• Receive a 5 percent premium discount on regular insurance coverage, if a property is already green certified.
• In the case of a loss, attain certification at one level above the certified green building level that existed prior to the loss or damage.

Fireman's Fund introduced green building insurance for commercial properties in fall 2006. New offerings that followed included green coverage for homeowners and hybrid vehicles. Along the way, the company also created its Green RiskAdvisor Program.

Earlier this summer, the carrier again expanded coverage with the debut of several new endorsements for policyholders who have made energy efficiency and other environmental upgrades to their property. Fireman's Fund also initiated a 5 percent discount to policyholders with Energy Star buildings.

So far, about 1,500 commercial insurance policyholders have purchased Green-Gard endorsements.

Image of the LEED-Platinum certified Windrush School in El Cerrito, Calif., courtesy of the Ratcliff architectural firm.