Your local jurisdiction may provide funding for meeting these requirements. For example, the Massachusetts School Building Authority and Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools Standard offer funding for meeting ANSI/ASA S12.60-2002.
Are composting toilets an option? While not common, composting toilets can go a long way toward achieving this prerequisite. They affect programming and layout, so consider them early.
Check with your local jurisdiction to see if the ANSI/ASA S12.60 standard has been adopted for the construction of schools and classrooms. Among jurisdictions that have adopted the standard are the New Hampshire Department of Education, the New Jersey School Construction Board, the State of Connecticut, the Ohio School Facility Commission, New York City Public Schools, and Arlington County (VA) Public Schools.
Consider the certifications of prospective acoustics consultants. Many are INCE Board Certified or members of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC). These certifications are not necessary but can help in making hiring decisions.
Many design teams will hire an acoustical consultant to run an acoustical analysis, make necessary calculations, and make recommendations for meeting the prerequisite and credit requirements. This is not necessary, but is highly recommend for projects attempting EQc9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance, and for architects and mechanical engineers without extensive experience designing for acoustics.
Calculating outdoor water use is not required for this prerequisite . However, understanding how indoor water use compares to outdoor water use can help you gauge where to focus reduction efforts for the greatest benefit. Some water saving strategies address both indoor and outdoor water needs holistically. For example, graywater from interior sink fixtures can be collected for landscape irrigation.
Verify that the mechanical engineer and architect are comfortable with running the necessary calculations for background noise level and reverberation time (
Perform a Water Balance Study for the entire project to make informed decisions about where to focus water savings efforts. Look for all water sources on the site, such as stormwater, graywater, and onsite water, and note opportunities for using that water for interior water use and or irrigation.
