Net-zero may seem beyond the budgets of most K-12 school districts, but a couple of trailblazers have found the means to construct schools designed to produce as much power as they use.
The new $20 million, 88,693-sf Colonel Smith Middle School in Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., takes daylighting to the highest level. Every regularly occupied space has a window, skylight, or clerestory glazing for layered daylighting. To hold down the cooling load, the building obtains most of its sunlight from the north sky through clerestory windows. On the south exterior wall, exterior overhangs prevent direct solar exposure in the summer, while allowing passive solar heating in winter. Locker rooms and other support spaces have shaded high-wall translucent fiberglass panels to provide privacy. Lighting energy use is expected to be 80% less than that of a standard school building.
Energy is recovered from locker room exhaust to pre-heat or pre-cool supply air delivered to locker rooms. Solar panels heat domestic water for locker rooms and the kitchen. PVs were obtained through a power purchase agreement. “We didn’t have net-zero in mind when we were starting out,” notes Dr. Ronda Frueauff, Superintendent of the Ft. Huachuca Accommodation School District. That changed as the design committee evaluated the affordability of each green element. Only geothermal was ruled out as cost-prohibitive.
Geothermal is, however, a key component of the Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, with 530 geothermal wells and 105 water-source heat pumps. The school is powered by 2,988 rooftop solar panels and 12 wind turbines. Opened in August 2011, the $29 million, 152,000-sf school cost about 12% more to build than one of traditional construction. School officials expect to recoup their investment in 10-12 years.
“We didn’t have net-zero in mind when we were starting out.”
--Dr. Ronda Frueauff, Superintendent of the Ft. Huachuca Accommodation School District.
Both schools incorporate green features into lesson plans. The Texas school features museum-type displays along the main hallway highlighting geothermal, solar, and wind technology, along with water efficiency. Students can get a close-up view of the PVs from a roof observation deck.
Getting to net-zero is not easy, but the promise of eliminating energy bills and using state-of-the-art technology as a learning lab can make a compelling case to reach for net-zero. +
Related Stories
| Jul 17, 2014
A high-rise with outdoor, vertical community space? It's possible! [slideshow]
Danish design firm C.F. Møller has developed a novel way to increase community space without compromising privacy or indoor space.
| Jul 17, 2014
How the 'pop-up' retail concept can be applied to workplace design
“Pop-up” has rapidly become one of the most pervasive design trends in recent years. It has given us pop-up shops and pop-up restaurants, but can it be applied to the professional work environment?
Sponsored | | Jul 17, 2014
A major hop forward
The construction of efficient metal buildings has helped Perrault Farms expand its hops-harvesting business.
| Jul 17, 2014
22 land questions to decide if your build site works
When you’re ready to build, land needs a serious amount of attention. Since it can singlehandedly shift your building plans, land must be investigated, questioned, and eyed from every angle. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Jul 16, 2014
Mergers and acquisitions of AE firms on track for strong year in 2014
Through the first six months of 2014, Morrissey Goodale tracked 101 sales of U.S.-based architecture and engineering firms, roughly the same amount as during the first six months of 2013.
| Jul 16, 2014
Ware Malcomb announces New Jersey office expansion
Architecture and design firm also honored for commercial real estate projects in New Jersey.
| Jul 16, 2014
Learning design fundamentals in the digital age – How to balance learning and technology
My colleague and I were once asked an insightful question by a Civil Engineering Professor that sparked an interesting conversation. He’d been told about our software by some of his students who had used it during their summer internship. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Jul 16, 2014
Check out this tree-like skyscraper concept for vertical farming
Aprilli Design Studio has stepped forward with a new idea for a vertical farm, which is intended to resemble a giant tree. It uses lightweight decks as outdoor growing space, adding up to about 25 acres of space.
| Jul 16, 2014
User input on aquatics center keeps students in the swim [2014 Building Team Awards]
Collaborative spirit abounds in the expansion and renovation of a high school pool facility in suburban Chicago.
| Jul 16, 2014
Nonresidential construction starts up 34% in June
Construction starts for nonresidential work saw a surge in June, rising more than a third compared with the previous month, according to Reed Construction Data.
