Sustainable Design & Energy Management

Introduction

A growing trend in new construction and renovation of K-12 schools is sustainable design. A number of resources provide information on how to design Virginia’s schools to help reduce energy use and operational cost in the future.

• 50 Percent Energy Savings ASHARE Advanced Design Guide(ashrae.org) includes tools for contractors and designers to consider, as well as recommendations for utilizing currently available technology and building materials.
• Zero Energy Schools – Beyond Platinum - Flipbook provides an overview of high-performance, energy-saving school design as well as definitions, terminology and design concepts.
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a secure, online energy-management tool, allows the tracking and assessment of energy and water consumption for a school building while helping to rate a building’s energy performance and set energy investment priorities.
• Target Finder | ENERGY STAR, a no-cost online tool, allows building owners and architects to set energy targets and receive EPA energy performance scores for projects under design.

Virginia Green Ribbon Schools 

Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, the U.S. Department of Education will recognize schools where staff, students, officials and communities have worked together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthy school environments and to ensure the sustainability and environmental literacy of graduates.