Energy Efficient School Construction

Energy efficient school construction provides better learning and teaching environments, decreases impact on the environment, and lowers operating costs. We have pulled together some links to assist you in your search for information on energy efficient school construction.

How energy efficient is my school?

Rate your school’s energy efficiency against other buildings around the country.

• ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool for Schools
• The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™

Where can my school get financial assistance?

In 1999 the House of Representatives created the ‘High Performance Schools Act.’ The purpose of this Act is to "assist school districts in the production of high performance elementary and secondary buildings that are healthful, productive, energy efficient, and environmentally sound."

• Read more about the High Performance Schools Act of 1999

More Web Resources

High Performance Schools (combining great buildings with great education)

• Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) — CHPS can help school districts and their design teams bring better performance into the classroom.
• The New Jersey Sustainable Schools Network — One of the network’s main initiatives is sustainable design and building.

Sustainable Design

• The Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide — Designing environmentally-sensitive buildings.
• PPRC Sustainable Design for Schools Report — Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Center’s report on the practical application of sustainable school design.
• EnergySmart Schools — EnergySmart Building Choices-School Facilities. Energy Smart Schools is a project of the US Department of Energy.

Technology

• Green Building Advisor — A software package for building professionals and architects to design environmentally-friendly buildings.
• The Daylighting Collaborative — All the daylighting information you need to get started.
• International Energy Agency Annex 36 — Tools and guidelines for retrofitting.
• Solar Electric Power Association: Schools Going Solar
• Heschong Mahone Group — A study on daylighting and productivity.

Informational Websites

• National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities — Part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Educational Resources Information Center, this site is targeted towards planners, designers, and building and maintenance personnel.
• DesignShare — The International Forum for Innovative Schools. On-line library and journal of facilities planning.
• e-Architect — Search this site for interesting articles on energy efficiency in schools.
• Environmental News Network — Search this site for interesting articles on sustainable school design and energy efficiency.
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
• Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

Sustainable School Success Stories

• Gilbert Architects
• Innovative Design
• Design Lights

Landscaping

• Green Builder