High Performance Schools
Case Studies: Strategies for Modernization
& New Construction
• Alice Sung, AIA, LEED AP
Principal, Greenbank Associates
sustainability / planning / CHPS / LEED
consulting
510-658-8060
[email protected]
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What is
a High Performance School?
Healthy
environment
(IAQ )
Natural Daylighting
Thermally, visually
and acoustically
comfortable

Commissioned
Environmentally responsive
A teaching tool
Safe and secure
A community resource
Stimulating architecture
Efficient use of
energy, materials and
water
Easy to maintain and
operate
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What are the
benefits of high performance building?
Heightened student performance
Reduced operating costs
Better student & teacher health
Increased Average Daily Attendance
Improved teacher satisfaction & retention
Reduced liability exposure
Reduced indoor & outdoor environmental impact
Eligible for financial incentives
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Cesar E. Chavez Education Center Oakland
Unified School District
VBN Architects
CEC Model Demonstration High Performance (CHPS) School
New Construction
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Strategies for High Performance Schools
• Proper site planning/Find TRUE
North
• Glazing orientation/ appropriate
sunshading
• Maximize natural daylighting
• Integrate electric lighting and
controls
• Maximize natural ventilation
• Minimize HVAC / energy use
• Maintain indoor air quality
• Superior acoustic performance
Strategies for High Performance Schools
• Minimize potable water use
• Integrate ‘green’ materials to
support IEQ and preserve
resources
• Optimize use of materials
• Minimize waste
• Think ‘Schools that Teach’
• Institutionalize high
performance aspects
through curriculum
integration and M&O
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Los Altos School District
High Performance Schools Case Study- Modernization
• Taking advantage of
the climate
• Energy and $$$
savings
• Daylight and electric
light
• Fresh air
• Lessons Learned
Los Altos School District
Blach Intermediate School, a CHPS
site, was constructed/modernized
during 2001 and 2002.
Almond and Springer Elementary
Schools were constructed/modernized
during 2002 and 2003.
Loyola and Santa Rita Elementary
Schools were constructed/modernized
during 2003 and 2004.
Oak Elementary School was
constructed/modernized in 2004 and
2005.
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Georgina Blach Intermediate School
Los Altos School District,
Los Altos, CA
450 students, Grades 7 & 8
5 new buildings, 9 building
modernizations
Project design begun 9/97,
.
completed 7/03
High Performance Features:
• Light colored "cool" roof to reduce
heat gain and increase roof life.
• Optimizing window glazing, size,
location, exterior shades and light
shelves to reduce glare and solar
gains, and improve daylight
distribution and visual comfort.
Georgina Blach Intermediate School
High Performance Features:
• Installing electric lights that
reduce output when adequate
daylight is available.
• Reduced lighting energy
consumption by 50% through
appropriate layout and efficient
direct/indirect lighting fixtures.
• Natural ventilation
• Intermittent fan control to
minimize fan operation.
• Efficient outdoor lighting
design
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Georgina Blach Intermediate
•
•
•
•
•
CHPS, Savings by Design
1950’s campus
450 children, grades 7-8
75,000 sf
Finger plan, Modernization
Scope
• New library, classrooms,
office, gym, music
Georgina Blach Intermediate School
Original buildings
Project date
Modernization area
New construction area
Cost
Cost/sf
PG+E demonstration grant
Beats Title 24
Data
1958
1999
37,000 sf
31,500 sf
$15,330,000
$223
$600,000
35%
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Georgina Blach Intermediate School
CHPS Criteria
Possible points
Site
14
Water
5
Energy
24
Materials
11
Indoor environmental quality 17
District resolutions
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Blach School
6
0
15
1
10
2
TOTAL
35
81
Energy (15 points)
35% reduction in net energy
from 2001 baseline
HVAC interconnected controls
with doors and operable
windows
Third party commissioning
Energy management system
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Gray area shows comfort
zone as defined in
ASHRAE standards below
Table 1. Examples of acceptable operative temperature ranges based on comfort zone
diagrams in ASHRAE Standard-55-2004
Conditions
Acceptable operative
temperatures
°C
o
F
Summer (clothing insulation = 0.5 clo)
Relative humidity 30%
24.5 – 28
76 – 82
Relative humidity 60%
23 – 25.5
74 – 78
Relative humidity 30%
20.5 –
25.5
69 – 78
Relative humidity 60%
20 – 24
68 – 75
Winter (clothing insulation = 1.0 clo)
Daily high outside air temperature exceeds desired
inside air temperature June-September. Average
outside air temperature NEVER exceeds desired
inside air temperature.
Los Altos climate characteristics
San Francisco average temperatures
Truckee average temperatures
Palm Springs average temperatures
Los Altos average temperatures
Even in Palm Springs average daily temperatures exceed the comfort zone for only four months.
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Los Altos climate and energy
characteristics:
• Temperate air reduces need
for air conditioning
• Sunny days throughout school
year provide illumination
• Sunny days also provide
greater heat gain both in winter
(good) and in summer (bad)
• Controlling heat gain from sun
and interior sources reduces
need for air conditioning
Light
All classrooms and library have north facing clerestory windows and daylight compensation lighting.
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Materials (1 point)
Reuse 75% of previous structure
Wall of existing (previous) building
Interior daylighting
Library
Classroom
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Georgina Blach Intermediate School
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Blach Energy Savings
$120,000
$100,000
$80,000
TOTAL projected annual savings (2003 rates)
$60,000
Electric usage (Kwt)
Gas usage (therms)
$40,000
Total energy savings
2002-2003 $52,111
2003-2004 $53,227
$20,000
$2000
2002
2003
2004
construction
District refinements
District decides to go all CHPS
• No added budget
• Continue commissioning
• Continue daylighting
• Continue natural ventilation
Daylighting compensation through separate
dimmer/fixture system
• Less precise
• Easier to commission
• Less costly to install
Fresh air through automated clerestory window
operation
• Less precise
• Less costly
• Required filter retrofit for high volume
• Used acoustic louvers for outside air inlet
Whole campus design
• Classroom gardens
• Native planting
• Bioswale parking lot run off management
• Adventure playground and reduction of
asphalt
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Light
Blach System
Integrated sensor, fixture, ballast
Sole source system
Light
Elementary school system
Ceiling mounted sensor,
Dimmable ballast
Competitive light fixture sourcing
Build flexibility and local control for teachers into your design
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Mechanical Systems
Former heating unit
Distributed system:
• less efficient
• easier to repair
• single classrooms go
down instead of campus
Blach School before
Units in classrooms:
• noisy
• easy to zone
• teacher feels in control
Blach Mechanical Ventilation
nozzles
Rooftop package
units with
minimum outside
air and
economizer cycle
20 cfm per
person from
package unit
Would serve
classrooms
without windows
and without AC if
necessary
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Stack Ventilation
High clerestory window
EMS system opens
powered clerestory
window
Louvers with
gravity damper
admit fresh air
Later schools
filtered
Acoustic louvers
low on walls
Reduced pavement
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Almond Elementary School
New daylighting at pop up
New shear wall at former windows
New daylighting in
library
Parent/student/teacher
Gardens
Native planting
Santa Rita Elementary School
New admin in modernized classrooms
Kindergarten addition under construction
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Oak Elementary School
Expanding site uses:
• outdoor classrooms
• exploration areas
• socialization
CASH HPS Workshop
High Performance Schools
Case Studies
Credits
Los Altos SD Case Study Architect:
Lisa Gelfand, AIA, Principal, Gelfand Partners contact:
[email protected]
Cesar E. Chavez Education Center:
VBN Architects
contact: [email protected]
Speaker: Alice Sung, AIA, LEED Accredited Professional
Principal, Greenbank Associates
sustainability / planning / CHPS / LEED consulting
contact: [email protected]
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