This credit is ultimately about education, not just about the function and design of the building. Some schools may have flashy green features that are obvious and easy to teach, but even less state-of-the-art buildings can provide students with a good learning experience.
Teachers should start thinking about ways in which the building and its operations can be used to educate their students. It might be best to pick out a specific sustainability issue and use the building as a tangible example. Consider, for instance, how the roof system relates to energy savings, how window selection and placement relate to lighting power load, or how native and adapted plantings affect water consumption.
Determine which teachers and school administrators are going to spearhead this effort. These individuals are in charge of developing the curriculum and making sure it is properly executed.
Modifications to the building HVAC system that are to be implemented concurrently with your project should also be included. (These modifications need not be within your project scope.)
If your project is in a LEED-certified building, a model using the performance rating method may already exist and can be modified to document this credit.
Using the Energy Cost Budget method may be more cost effective for your project, as it’s less comprehensive and detailed. However, it does not include savings for energy efficient air distribution systems. If this is where your project is expected to realize significant energy savings, use the Performance Rating Method.
Start the energy modeling by building the design-case model. Follow Section 11 (Energy Cost Budget) or Appendix G (Performance Rating Method) of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 guidelines for assistance with modeling parameters. Input the existing building’s envelope characteristics, but use project design specifications for energy-using equipment and systems.
