# Presentation: 947219

## High Performance SchoolConstruction Guidelines

- John Brown
- State and Local Initiatives
- john_brown@nrel.gov

## Introduction

- Schools spend $7.8 billion on energy per year: more than computers and textbooks combined
- EnergySmart Schools estimates energy bills could be reduced by 25%
- This afternoon...
- Features of High Performance Schools
- Review of Guidelines Format and Content
- Examples from Districts Nationwide

**ESS is Part of the Department of Energy’s Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Rebuild America Program**

**Notes:**
I’d like to have a different graphic for Rebuild.  This one doesn’t show up so well.

## Major DOE National Laboratories

**INEEL**

**NREL**

**Lawrence Berkeley**

**Lawrence Livermore**

**Los Alamos**

**Sandia**

**Pacific Northwest**

**Argonne**

**Brookhaven**

**NETL**

**Oak Ridge**

**Major DOE National Laboratories**

**National Nuclear Security Administration**
**Office of Science**
**Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy**
**Office of Nuclear Energy**
**Fossil Energy**

**Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by**
**Midwest Research Institute • Battelle**

**Savannah River**

## Major NREL Thrusts

- Hybrid Vehicles
- Alternative Fuels Utilization
**Building Technologies**
- Building Efficiency
- Zero Energy Buildings
**Federal Energy Management**
**Basic Energy Science**
- New Materials
- Chemical & Biological Sciences
**Analytical Studies**
**International**

**Wind**
- Large Scale
- Low Speed
**Solar**
- Photovoltaics
- Solar Thermal
**Biomass**
- Biorefineries
- Biosciences
**Geothermal**
**Hydrogen**
- Production
- Storage
- Delivery & End Use
- Systems Integration
**Distributed Energy**
- Distribution & Interconnection
- Thermal Systems
- Superconductivity

**Major NREL Thrusts**
**Only National Lab Dedicated to RE and EE**

## High Performance Schools mean High Performance Students

- Students with the most daylighting progressed
-  20% faster on math tests,
-  And 26% faster on reading tests over a one year period
- (Heschong Mahone Group 1999, 2003)
- Better teaching environment
- Cost savings
- Environmental savings

**Notes:**
Picture was found on the web.

## HPS Component: Teaching Resource

*    **Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Open Building Systems on Campus are effective ways to integrate math and science activities into daily study life*

**Notes:**
Nantucket Elementary School uses this grid-connected PV system to supplement the power it uses from the local utility. Owner: Nantucket Schools; Funding: Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources; PV array: 7.2 kWp, 2 arrays, 60 Solarex MSX-60 modules each; Installer: Ascension Technology; Inverter: 2 4-kW Omnion 2200; Mounting: stand-off on sloped roof jacks.

## Many shades of green...

**U.S. Green Building Council**

**American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers**

**Sustainable Building Industry Council**

**Energy Star for Buildings Award**

**Notes:**
These were all mentioned in the paper introduction.
The Energy Star image is from the guidelines.  I think it may be a picture of the plaque for a building.

## DOE Guideline Documents

- National Best Practices Manual
- Architects, Engineers, Project Managers
- Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools
- Architects, Engineers, Project Managers
- Superintendents, Principals, schools boards, Administrative Staff

**Notes:**
DOE also produces a set of High Performance/Green guidelines.  
One set directed at Architets, Engineers and Project Managers – Technical Level Staff

Another set directed at Superintendents, Principals, School Board Members, Parents and teachers

## Climate Zone SpecificAccounts for climate – dependent variability in building needs and performance demands

**Notes:**
The guidelines produced by DOE are climate zone specific.

There are 9 climate zones in all: 

For example – air conditioning needs down in TX are substantially different than AC needs in MN.

TX (along with CA) hold the distinction of needing three climate zone specfic guidelines to cover the entire state.

## Topics Covered Reflect Interaction of Building Components

- Site Design
- Daylighting and Windows
- Energy-Efficient Building Shell
- Lighting and Electrical
- Mechanical and Ventilation
- Renewable Energy
- Water Conservation
- Recycling Systems and Waste Management
- Transportation
- Resource Efficient Products
- Checklist
- Case Studies

**Notes:**
Today we’ll look at the guidelines in little more detail – and try to highlight some of the aspects that are relevant – and important to officials working in the commerical and school building code arena.

## Emphasis on the

**Daylighting**

**Economizer cycle**

**Reduced duct leakage**

**Reduced infiltration**

**Insulation**

**Lighting controls**

**Energy efficient lights**** and ballasts**

**Passive solar heating**

**Thermal mass**

**Shading**

**Better HVAC Controls**

**High Efficiency HVAC**

**Better windows**

**Photovoltaics**

**Distributed Generation**

**Combined Heat and Power**

**Emphasis on the**
**Whole Building as a System**

**Notes:**
Before we look at the code-relevant content of the guidelines – it’s important to understand that optimizing new building technologies is rocket science.

This slide shows that technologies regularly used in building design and construction are intricately related 

If integrated design practices are ignored – many of the individual high performance advantages are lost – and the aggregate advantages never appear.

For example – Better windows, insultation and thermal mass may significantly reduce the size of the HVAC unit.

## Cross-Cutting Issues

## Opportunities in the Design Process

**Code phase can be here**

**or ... Code can act as the driver**

**Notes:**
The sooner high performance goals are considered – the more optimally they can be integrated.
As code officials – you may want to discourage installing “on-the-fly” high performance components, instead, encouraging contractors and designers to consider the interplay of complex systems.

## National Best Practices ManualComprehensive Format

- Recommendation:
- How to apply the high performance design concept or technology
- Description
- Detailed information on the strategy or technology
- Applicability Chart
- Indicates applicability to particular spaces, climate zones and design process steps
- Integrated Design Implications
- Describes the implications the design strategy or technology may have on other building systems
- Cost Effectiveness
- Cost/Benefits of the design strategy on a system and overall project basis

## National Best Practices Manual Format

- Benefits
- Expected benefits from the implementation of HP design strategies and technologies
- Design Tools
- Applicable design tools including software that determine benefits and costs
- Design Details
- Rules of thumb, Specifications, Schematics
- O&M Issues
- Potential O&M concerns and strategies
**Commissioning**
- Outlines need for calibration, functional tests, static tests
- References
- Sampling of documents, websites etc....

## Slide 16

## Slide 17

## Site Design and Selection

- Optimum Building Orientation
- Landscaping Design
- Impervious Surfaces
- Integrated Weed and Pest Control
- IAQ during Construction

## Daylighting and Windows

- View Windows
- High Sidelighting-Clerestory
- Classroom Daylighting
- Central Toplighting
- Linear Toplighting
- Tubular Skylights

## Energy Efficiency Building Shell

- Wall Insulation
- Roof Insulation
- Cool Roofs
- Radiant Barriers
- Air Barriers
- Concrete Masonry

## Lighting and Electrical

- Pendant Mounted Lighting
- Troffer Lighting
- Gym Lighting
- Corridor Lighting
- Lighting for Office, Library and Classroom
- Outdoor Lighting

## Mechanical and Ventilation

- Cross & Stack Ventilation
- Ceiling Fans
- Packaged Rooftop
- Radiant Slab
- Evaporative Cooling
- Economizers
- Boilers
- CO Sensors
- Heat Pumps

## Renewable Energy Systems

- Passive Heating & Cooling
- Solar Thermal
- Solar Pool Heating
- Wind
- Geothermal (GSHP)
- Photovoltaics

## Water Conservation

- Water Efficient Irrigation
- Stormwater Manageent
- Rainwater Collection
- Gray Water
- Efficient Terminal Devices

## Recycling Systems and Waste Management

- Paper, Plastics, Glass and Aluminum
- Composting
- Construction & Demolition

## Transportation

- Alternative Fuels
- Transportation and Site Design
- Alternative Fuel Vehicles

## Resource Efficient Building Products

- Carpeting
- Resilient Flooring
- Ceramic Tile
- Concrete, Wood and Bamboo Flooring
- Acoustical Panels
- Casework and Trim

## Commissioning & Maintenance

- Commissioning Approaches
- Benefits of Commissioning
- Costs of Commissioning
- The Commissioning Team
- Commissioning Phases

## Temperate and Mixed Climates Corvallis School District 509J, Corvallis, Oregon

- 6850 students in 12 schools
- $1.5 million saved 1999-2004:
- reduced energy use in off-peak hours
- turning off lights and computers
- New middle school and new high school
- 	use energy efficient measures as well:
- estimated **35%** **energy savings** for
- 		high school and **30%** for middle
- 		school
- applying for **LEED Silver ratings**

**www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/29986.pdf**

**Notes:**
Do we want to mention Energy Education, Inc.?
Off-peak hours example:  making sure all the lights in the gym are turned off after a game and not left on until a custodian can get there.
Middle School:
	125,000 square feet
	552 students
	opens in August 2004
High School:
	230,000 square feet
	1306 students
	to open Sept. 2006
The Oregon State Energy Office provided recommendations on community education and outreach to the administrative staff.

## Corvallis, Oregon

- Technologies used across the district:
- 	T-8 lighting
- 	digitally controlled HVAC
- 	energy-efficient boilers
- $5200 reimbursement from the local utility funded cafeteria lighting upgrade
- $24,000 rebate and Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) funded a gym lighting retrofit

- The new Corvallis High School

**Notes:**
Sketch is of the media center and classrooms in the new high school.  Note the daylighting.

## Cold and Humid Climates Elk River School District #728, Elk River, Minnesota

- 11,000 students in 17 buildings
- Rogers High School:
- New school; completed 2003
- First high performance school in the state
- 850 students and 257,000 ft**2**
- 25% less energy over code-built
- $175,000 annual savings
- $32 million project cost

**www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/29107.pdf**

## Elk River, Minnesota

- Westwood Elementary:
- Also completed 2003
- 74,000 ft**2 **and 475 students
- Expected savings of $65-75,000 annually over code-built schools
- Project cost was $11.5 million

-   Expected to receive LEED   Silver Certification
-   The first elementary in the state to have this distinction

**Notes:**
Need a different picture.

## Elk River, Minnesota

- In Westwood Elementary, there have been days in winter when it costs nothing to heat the school,
- 		*“**The building maintained its desired temperature even with a constant flow of fresh air coming in.”*
- 				Ron Bratlie,
- 				Director of Special Projects

## Tropical Island Climates Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii

- 1064 students
- 134,000 ft**2** building oriented on east-west axis
- Maximize exposure to daylight
- Capture northeast trade winds for natural
- 	ventilation
- Variable-air-volume systems with
- 	variable-speed drives to ventilate
- 	library and music buildings

**www.rebuild.org/attachments/SolutionCenter/34274draft.pdf**

## Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii

- Heat recovery unit converts heat of the refrigerant to supplement the hot water system
- High performance shell
- Tinted, low-e windows
- R-19 roof insulation

- Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Photo by Mitsunaga & Associates

-   Daylighting strategies used to design most classrooms
-   Lighting includes T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts

## Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools

- Department of Energy’s Rebuild America program
- Specially targeted to nine climate zones

- www.rebuild.org/sectors/sectorpages/ess_guidelines.asp

-   Outline high performance principles for the new or retrofit design of K-12 schools

- To order hardcopies:

## National Best Practices Manual

- Key technical knowledge for architects, engineers and code officials
- Available at: www.rebuild.gov

## Conclusion

**Conclusion**

- High performance design allows for energy savings as well as better learning environment
- Building Codes can be used to drive a high performance process and push the envelope
- Integrated design and planning is essential
- Code inspectors can encourage beyond code practices

**Notes:**
Needs work.

## Slide 39

**Notes:**
School environments greatly affect the students’ learning and happiness.
Shown:  daylighting in a classroom (Four Oaks Elementary School in Johnston County, North Carolina) , PV panels for Bluffsview Elementary, and learning about renewables at Bluffsview.