Schools
Our nation's K-12 schools are challenged to serve growing student populations and rising community expectations with aging buildings, constrained operating budgets, and ever-increasing energy bills.
Energy-smart building choices can help school districts save big on utility bills and maintenance costs. Even better, many of the same improvements that help to lower a school's energy consumption also serve to improve the classroom environment, removing noisy, inefficient heating and cooling systems, inadequate lights, and ventilation systems that do not restrict indoor contaminants.
New high-performance schools—designed to save energy and reduce environmental impact—can save 50 percent on energy bills compared to traditionally designed schools. High-performance school designs integrate efficient lighting and daylighting systems, advanced windows, roofing, insulation, and mechanical and ventilation systems, as well as renewable energy systems, water conservation features, recycling and waste management systems, and use of environmentally sensitive building products and systems. As an added bonus, teachers can incorporate their school's energy features into their curriculum, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities about energy and the environment.
An excellent source for constructing energy-efficient schools has been developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Their Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings offers recommendations to achieve energy savings of 30 percent over standard code requirements. The recommendations are organized around eight specific climate zones to ensure the energy savings are achieved in any geographic location in the United States. The ASHRAE Design Guide can be ordered from their Web site.
EnergySmart schools mean healthier learning environments – and a healthier planet. They also save money for America's school districts. Valuable resources concerning schools are available from DOE's EnergySmart Schools Program.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has facilitated the creation of the Commercial Building Energy Alliances (CBEAs), which are designed to minimize the energy and environmental impact of commercial buildings and reduce energy costs for these buildings.