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Volume III Criteria 2005 Edition is Now Ready For the Second Public Review
All Comments due by July 21st, COB. |
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David Thorman, California State Architect Endorses CHPS The Governor's Green Building Executive Order encourages schools using public funds for new construction to take cost-effective, “high performance” measures to retrofit, build and operate buildings that are both energy and resource efficient. The Governor's Green Building Action Plan directs that… “the Division of State Architect (DSA), in consultation with the Office of Public School Construction, the California Energy Commission, and other appropriate organizations, shall lead the adoption of technical resources and guidelines that will enable schools built with state funds to be resource and energy efficient…” This has resulted in the CA Schools Workgroup to recommend the Collaborative for High Performance Schools' Best Practices Manual to assist schools with technical resources and guidelines for building sustainable schools. This workgroup reviewed comparisons of existing school design guidelines and technical resources to prepare a recommendation. After making a tentative selection, they conducted an online survey in September 2005 to collect the opinions of school construction stakeholders. The group has concluded that the best guideline to meet the requirements of the Executive Order (EO) is the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Best Practices Manual. |
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CHPS 2006 Edition Best Practices Manual is now Available in Print The CHPS 2006 Edition Best Practices Manual includes: Volume I–Planning (2006): This volume addresses the needs of school districts, including superintendents, parents, teachers, school board members, administrators, and those persons in the school district that are responsible for facilities. These may include the assistant superintendent for facilities (in large districts), buildings and grounds committees, energy managers, and new construction project managers. Volume I describes why high performance schools are important, what components are involved in their design, and how to navigate the design and construction process to ensure that they are built. Volume II–Design Guidelines (2006): This volume contains design guidelines for high performance schools. These are tailored for California climates and are written for the architects and engineers who are responsible for designing schools as well as the project managers who work with the design teams. Organized by design discipline, the guidelines present effective strategies for the design of schools that meet the CHPS high performance school criteria. Volume III–Criteria (2003): The CHPS criteria are a flexible yardstick that precisely defines a high performance school. School districts are encouraged to adopt the criteria for their new buildings and major modernizations. Also included is the Addendum–CHPS Energy Criteria. Volume IV–Maintenance and Operations (2004): This volume presents high performance guidelines for the maintenance and operation of schools. Information in this volume will help ensure that high performance school buildings continue to operate as their designers intended, providing optimal health, efficiency, and sustainability. Volume V–Commissioning (2006): This volume provides important information on commissioning high performance schools—a critical step in ensuring that the technologies and high performance elements are actually built and tested to meet specifications. For publication prices and ordering information visit the CHPS Web site or call 877-642-CHPS. |
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Looking for Ways to Fund a CHPS Project? In 2007 California school districts might find funding high performance school features in their budgets. On May 20 th Governor Schwarzenegger approved a bond bill, AB 127
(Nunez and Perata), that allocates $7.3 billion for K-12 new school construction and modernization projects, with an additional $100 million for high performance schools. This is the first school bond bill to be placed on voter’s ballot of its kind, linking incentive grants for high performance school features not only in energy efficiency, but also in water efficiency, indoor air quality, and material use. The goal of this funding will be to create educational environments for both teachers and students that are efficient, healthy, comfortable places to learn, not to mention buildings that improve the environment. AB 127 will be known as
Prop 1D on the November 7, 2006 General Election Ballot. You can obtain more information about the bill at: |
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Displacement Ventilation Improves Indoor Air Quality and Saves Energy for Orange County School Results from a recent Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program show that displacement ventilation can both improve indoor air quality and save energy. With displacement ventilation (DV), cool air is supplied at a low velocity to two diffusers located in the classroom. The cool air falls due the floor and spreads across the room until it comes into contact with heat sources. As the air rises it picks up heat and contaminants and transfers the stale, contaminated air towards the ceiling, where it is exhausted from the classroom. Since the supply air is delivered low in the space, close to the occupants, the result is improved indoor air quality. A recent demonstration project at Kinoshita Elementary in San Juan Capistrano, California confirmed the benefits of displacement ventilation. Researchers monitored carbon dioxide levels in the DV classroom and compared the results to a traditional classroom, which uses an air supply from overhead ceiling diffusers to create a “fully mixed” air space. They found that in the DV classroom carbon dioxide levels were lower in the occupied area than at the ceiling, a sign that the ventilation air was effectively distributed to the occupants. Energy monitoring showed that the displacement ventilation HVAC system used 21% less energy than the control HVAC system. The DV system also provided a significant acoustics improvement, since the air spills out at a very low velocity. As a result, teachers are less likely to turn air-conditioning systems off to be heard. The demonstration project also featured an innovative HVAC design that provides for good control of the supply air temperature in a small packaged rooftop unit. Control of the supply air temperature to the desired setpoint for displacement ventilation (around 65 ° F) was a key to ensuring comfort. The use of the higher supply air temperature allows for greater use of the economizer, and provides additional energy savings. Published results can be found at the program website: |
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CHPS Recognition in the Month of June On June 15 th CHPS formally recognized Dry Creek Jt. Elementary School District for having adopted a resolution making it mandatory for construction projects to meet CHPS Criteria. This district resolution, passed in 2003, was championed by Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Lee who was also presented with a certificate for his commitment to sustainable schools. He has been a strong believer in planning for future generations to come and has set a high precedent for other school districts nationwide to learn from. Dry Creek Jt. ESD has spearheaded some of the most cutting edge research in high performance technologies such as displacement ventilation. This identifies the districts leadership when it comes to innovation. On June 22 nd CHPS formally recognized New Science Education facilities that were built to CHPS Criteria at both Del Mar High School and Westmont High School. Martin Dreiling of CSS Architecture, Rumsey Engineers, Integrated Design Associates, Inc. and John Nolen, Director of Support Services at Campbell Union High School District were recognized for this achievement. Both projects earned 37 CHPS Credits and excelled in the Energy and IEQ categories. A 38% reduction in total net energy use (per Title 24 -2001) was made possible by utilizing north facing daylighting design, wide overhangs and side fins to control solar gain through glazing, superior wall and roof insulation, the use of PV’s, as well as a number of other efficiency design features. We hope to plan a tour of these buildings in the near future. |
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It's a Great Time to Become a CHPS Member This has been a particularly exciting year for CHPS. With the Governor’s Green Building Executive Order unfolding, resulting in the State Architect endorsing CHPS as a recommended design standard, many more school districts statewide are referring to CHPS Design Guidelines. (Not to mention that 15 Districts in CA have made CHPS a mandatory design standard and states outside of CA have licensed CHPS!) In addtion, as the new version of the Best Practices Manual is published newfound interest in CHPS is escalating. If you have a vested interest in sustainable schools then you will want to be in the know as a CHPS Member. To learn about the benefits and how to join, please visit us online: http://www.chps.net/membership/CHPSmembers.htm |
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CHPS Online Design Seminars Coming this Fall Learn best practices for sustainable school design, based on CHPS Best Practices Manual 2006 Edition! In the comfort of your office you can engage in a live online presentation taught by experts in the field. Each seminar will be no more than three hours in length covering the following topics:
Check back with us in August for a list of scheduled seminars: http://www.chps.net/events/index.htm Free ZERI Zero Waste teacher training in LA and San Diego, 7/25-8/3, 2006.
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Looking for the CHPS Scorecard? Looking to become a CHPS Member? |
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