Publication Offers Energy-Efficiency Guidelines for K-12 Schools
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A recent publication from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), headquartered in Atlanta, educates architects, engineers, and other members of building design teams on how to use best design practices to construct energy-saving buildings.
Written specifically for K-12 school buildings, “The Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings” seeks to assist design teams in constructing energy-smart schools using off-the-shelf technology that can cut energy use by 30% or more annually — a substantial figure, considering that 16% of school districts' controllable costs is spent on energy.
According to ASHRAE, the publication offers easy-to-follow recommendations for various climate zones as well as how-to implementation tips via a series of real-life school construction case studies. Also included are suggested steps for achieving LEED energy credits and supplemental strategies for attaining advanced energy savings beyond 30%.
Design tips featured in the guide include:
Provide daylighting to the classrooms and gym so lights can be off most of the day, but design the facility carefully so that no additional cooling needs are required.
Design lighting systems that use the latest energy-efficiency lamps, ballasts, and integrated controls.
Control the HVAC system based on actual occupancy of each space at a given time.
Design a well-insulated “envelope,” including good wall and roof insulation and low-e windows.
Use high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment.
To download a free electronic version of the ASHRAE report, visit www.ashrae.org/freeaedg.
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© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.
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