Energy consumption represents the second highest operational expense to schools, second only to salaries. Each year, a significant portion of taxpayer dollars are spent on school utility expenses, thereby cutting into funding that could be allocated to resources for students. On average, zero energy schools can use between 65%–80% less energy than conventionally constructed schools, and the remaining energy required is supplied by renewable energy. In addition, zero energy schools can become prominent community landmarks that educate a new generation of students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills critical to our nation’s future.
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Featured Solutions
Arlington County is facing massive growth in the next decade and is seeking to add half a million square feet in educational facilities. Discovery Elementary is Arlington's first zero-energy school. Not only did the project come in under budget, but the building is more efficient than originally predicted. Now Discovery saves $100,000 per year in utility costs, enough to cover the salaries of two teachers.
This guide provides user-friendly guidance for achieving a zero energy K-12 school building. It establishes a set of energy performance goals and applies to all sizes and classifications of K-12 school buildings (elementary, middle, high). Space types covered include administrative and office space, classrooms, hallways, restrooms, gymnasiums and multipurpose rooms, libraries, and food preparation and dining areas.
Developed as part of DOE's Zero Energy Schools Accelerator (ZESA), this guide outlines 8 steps to creating a Zero Energy school.
This report challenges the assumption that zero-energy K-12 schools are cost-prohibitive. By examining the costs of a subset of existing ZE schools and the strategies used to contain those costs, architects, engineers, owners, and researchers are challenging the notion that cost is a barrier to building ZE schools.
Other Resources
Case Study
A case study of Discovery Elementary School, a zero energy school in Virginia, that came in under budget and being more energy efficient than designed, saving $100,000 per year in energy costs.
A case study of Odyssey Elementary School, a zero energy school in Utah featuring various glazing, envelope, renewable, and HVAC technologies.
A case study of Friends School of Portland, a zero energy school in Maine that achieved both zero energy performance and passive house certification on a modest budget.
Fact Sheet
The Zero Energy Schools Accelerator aims to make Zero Energy K-12 schools mainstream, while enhancing the educational environment for our nation’s students.
Guidance
Access definitions for a zero energy building which produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, thereby reducing the use of non-renewable energy in the building sector.
This technical feasibility study, published by the National Renewable Energy Lab, provides documentation and research results supporting a possible set of strategies to achieve source zero energy K-12 school buildings according to the DOE definition of a zero energy building (ZEB). This feasibility study applies to elementary, middle, and high school buildings.
Learn how designing, building, and operating zero energy ready K-12 schools provide benefits for districts, students, and teachers. Includes a checklist and best practices summary for achieving a zero energy ready school.
School districts have encountered and overcome challenges to achieving zero energy in school buildings. Here’s how they accomplished it.
Zero energy schools are possible and practical, and architects are leading the way. This gives examples of how architects can communicate the benefits of zero energy goals to school districts, teachers and the community, and best practices architects use to achieve a zero energy design.
Video
Arlington County is facing massive growth in the next decade and is seeking to add half a million square feet in educational facilities. Discovery Elementary is Arlington's first zero-energy school. Not only did the project come in under budget, but the building is more efficient than originally predicted. Now Discovery saves $100,000 per year in utility costs, enough to cover the salaries of two teachers.
Most buildings today use a lot of energy -- to keep the lights on, cool the air, heat water, and power personal devices. Even installing solar systems will not significantly counter the heavy energy load. There are, however, some buildings that strike a balance; or even tip the scales the other way!
Partners
- Adams 12 - Five Star SchoolsArlington County School DistrictAssociation for Learning EnvironmentsBaltimore City Public SchoolsBoulder Valley School DistrictCollaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)Douglas County School District, COHermosa Beach City School DistrictHorry County SchoolsNational Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)National Energy Education Development (NEED) ProjectNew Buildings InstituteNortheast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)Rocky Mountain InstituteState of CaliforniaThe Energy CoalitionU.S. Department of Education
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South Carolina
Horry County SchoolsCalifornia
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)The Energy CoalitionHermosa Beach City School DistrictColorado
Rocky Mountain InstituteBoulder Valley School DistrictDouglas County School District, COVirginia
Arlington County School DistrictNational Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)National Energy Education Development (NEED) ProjectOregon
New Buildings InstituteMinnesota
District Of Columbia
U.S. Department of EducationMassachusetts
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)Arizona
Association for Learning Environments