Event Summary
Over 100 community leaders attended The High Performance School Building Symposium at the Mid-Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines on October 23, 2006. The Symposium, hosted by Sustainable Sandhills, brought elected officials, architects, school board members, and citizens together to discuss the merits of High Performance Schools. With a nearly $1 billion combined construction budget for school districts in the Sandhills region over the next five years, North Carolina schools have the opportunity – and now the knowledge – to make educated decisions about the types of schools they will build.
An article was written in The Pilot on the HPS Symposium.
High Performance School Building Symposium
Sustainable Sandhills hosted a High Performance School Buildings Symposium October 23, 2006 at the picturesque Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC. The symposium focused on the costs and benefits of building high performance school facilities.
FAQ's and resources on High Performance School Buildings.
What is a High Performance School building?
Though designs differ from school to school, all High Performance Schools share three characteristics:
- They provide a healthy and productive environment for students and teachers.
- They are cost effective to operate and maintain.
- They are environmentally sustainable.
What does a High Performance School building look like?
A high performance school building is not easily defined because it meets many different criteria. Criteria for a high performance school include energy efficiency, recyclable and recycled building materials with low toxic emissions, conservation/restoration of natural landscape, daylighting, monitored and efficient heating and cooling systems (HVAC), water efficiency, and high indoor air and sound quality. The list of specific criteria for a high performance school is flexible and can also include outdoor classrooms, use of alternative energy, or local building materials.
The means and extent of meeting these criteria is different in each school. Examples of different water efficiency measures include:
- Low-flow water fixtures and urinals
- Rainwater collection and filtration for non-potable use
- Landscaping with drought resistant plants to eliminate irrigation uses
- Constructed wetlands to capture runoff and serve as an outdoor classroom
For example the Triangle J COG recently developed its own list of guidelines and criteria to judge High Performance buildings. Click here to view and download the Triangle J COG checklists and case studies.
High Performance Schools are sometimes called ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ schools because of the environmentally friendly technology and materials used in their design.
What are the benefits of High Performance School buildings?
Higher student performance & test scores - a recent study of High Performance School buildings in North Carolina showed that students progressed about 15% faster in both math and reading in daylit classrooms as compared to traditional classrooms. A study in California, Washington, and Colorado yielded similar results,with the summary published in the ASHREA Journal in 2002. Click here to view the summary.
For general information on how school facilities effect academic outcomes click here to see the National Clearinghouse of Educational Facilities report.
Higher student and teacher attendance – High Performance schools create superior indoor air quality by limiting building materials that emit hazardous chemicals, filtering air more efficiently, and allowing for heating and cooling control in each classroom. This decreases discomfort and the spread of diseases. It also decreases allergy and asthma attacks, which are both on the rise in American youth. Increasing student attendance also increases the operating budget of schools that receive state funds based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) records. Improved air quality also decreases the risk of a health related lawsuit for the school and the possibility of becoming a 'sick building'. Click here for a report on health and student performance in North Carolina high performance school buildings.
Lower operating costs – one of the goals of High Performance design is to lower the overall cost of owning the building. When a High Performance School is designed, a life cycle cost (LCC) approach is used to reduce the lifetime cost of the building. Over the life of the building High Performance technologies will save energy and water, lowering the utility bills for the school. In many cases, High Performance technologies are more durable than others, meaning less maintenance and replacement costs too. Click here to see case studies that include cost savings for high performance schools.
Lower environmental impacts – using recycled and recyclable materials for construction decreases the waste created by the construction process. If the building ever needs to be demolished, the materials can be reused, further decreasing the material waste created by the building. Lowering energy use through daylighting or energy efficient HVAC systems decreases emissions from power plants. Decreasing emissions will alleviate air pollution in the region, directly affecting human health, and will also decrease the release of carbon which contributes to global warming. Decreasing water use will decrease the energy needed to treat wastewater and also decrease the strain on water use during droughts.
Increased teacher retention – the healthier and more productive atmosphere of a High Performance School has been shown to increase the satisfaction of staff members. In a time when teacher turn-over is high and new teachers are scarce, retaining experienced teachers is valuable to any district.
Increased availability of practical teaching tools – a High Performance School offers math and science students opportunities to interact with and learn about cutting edge technologies. Students can monitor their own energy and/or water uses in the classroom. If the school is designed to include natural landscaping, such as a wetland or other habitat, students have the opportunity to experience lessons in nature. The design of any High Performance School also offers a model for students to follow in making sustainable decisions for the future.
Do High Performance Schools cost more to build?
It depends on the specific design of the school. Some High Performance schools cost the same as traditional schools to build. Click here for cases of equivalent or cheaper green buildings. Some cost slightly more. The cost difference will depend on the choice of components and technology in the design. Click here to see a nationwide study of green schools that showed an average of 1.5-2.5% higher construction cost. This cost difference for construction is quickly recouped through lower operating and maintenance costs. The nationwide study also concludes that the financial benefits of building a high performance school outweigh the costs.
Are there any High Performance School buildings in North Carolina?
Yes! Wake County, Iredell County, Orange County, Durham County, and Johnston County are among the many school districts that have chosen to use High Performance designs.
Some of the schools were built new, while others were renovated or expanded to meet High Performance criteria. To view cases of some of North Carolina’s High Performance schools visit the North Carolina Green Building Technology Database.
Why should the Sandhills region care about High Performance School buildings?
Construction galore! The combined construction budget for school districts in the Sandhills over the next 5 years is near 1 billion dollars. The budget for new schools alone is 455 million dollars. Now is the time for the Sandhills region to capture the same benefits in student performance and health that other school districts in North Carolina have.
Resources for High Performance Schools
The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF): Created by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) provides information on planning, designing, funding, building, improving, and maintaining safe, and healthy schools. Information includes a list of resources for high performance schools. Also included is a video recently shown on PBS that defines and illustrates the characteristics of a High Performance School. Click here to go straight to the video.
The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS): A California based organization providing information on benefits, criteria for defining High Performance Schools, how to plan and design a High Performance School, and case studies of schools in California. The website includes links to their Best Practices Manual for High Performance Schools.
US Department of Energy – EnergySmart Schools: Through the Rebuild America program, the US DOE provides resources and technical support for making energy efficient building choices for schools. Wake County Schools are highlighted by the US DOE for their energy smart school designs and programs.
US Department of Energy – High Performance Buildings: Database of strategies and technologies for High Performance buildings, including research reports on costs and benefits, and case studies.
US Green Building Council (GBC): The Green Building Council is a coalition of leaders in the building industry. They have developed a system for classifying green buildings called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The website provides information on LEED certification and general green building benefits. Click here for case studies of green buildings that save money in construction and maintenance.
BetterBricks: Based in the Pacific Northwest, BetterBricks provides services and information to designers and owners on energy efficiency in buildings.
Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC): A non-profit organization that provides resources for designers and decision-makers on sustainable buildings. They produce a High Performance Schools Resource and Strategy Guide that is useful throughout the building process. Click here to view the Resource and Strategy Guide.
American Institute of Architects (AIA): Professional organization of architects with a Committee on the Environment. AIA publishes a guide for Writing the Green RFP to aid building owners in using sustainable design language. The guide includes frequently asked questions and stories from experience.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA's Indoor Air Quality department promotes high performance school designs because of their superior air quality and health benefits. Thie website includes more FAQ's and resources for high performance schools, including sources of additional funding for high performance schools.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA): Offers online training in High Performance Building design for architects and engineers.
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA): The NESEA is a regional organization that promotes development and adoption of energy conservation and renewable energy technologies. The NESEA website maintains a resource list for Building Green Schools.
Reports & Studies on High Performance Schools
National Review of Green Schools – Costs, Benefits, and Implications for Massachusetts: Documents the financial costs and benefits of green schools compared to traditional schools. The national review of 30 green schools reveals greater benefits than costs. Published: December 2005.
High-Performance Schools - Affordable Green Design for K-12 Schools: Reports case studies of affordable energy saving strategies tailored to each climate zone within the US. The strategies are based on the US Department of Energy’s Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools. Published: August 2004.
Windows and Classrooms – A Study of Student Performance and the Indoor Environment: A report by the California Energy Commission investigating the effect of window design, and other classroom features, on different aspects of student performance. The report includes a summary of previous research into daylighting and student performance. Published: October 2003.
Daylighting in Schools – Reanalysis Report: Another report by the California Energy Commission investigating daylighting in classrooms and the effect on student performance. Published: October 2003.