Massachusetts High-Performance Green Schools

1
Massachusetts High-Performance Green Schools
Case Study

• Whitman-Hanson Regional High School

• Library Media Center.
• This projects features include utilizing daylight
  extensively, energy efficient lighting systems,
  and high performance windows.

2
Site Analysis

• Understand solar orientation
• Understand wind patterns
• Understand natural resources (wetlands) and
  topography

Fact Smart site design can preserve natural
areas, minimize stormwater runoff, control
erosion, reduce heat islands, and prevent light
pollution.
3
Energy Efficient Building Design

• Three story design to minimize the building area
• Natural lighting throughout
• Courtyard design to allow natural light into core
  spaces

4
Increased Glazing Efficiency

• Baseline windows
• U value 0.57
• Shading Coefficient 0.88
• Specified Windows
• U value 0.31
• Shading Coefficient 0.46
• Solar Screen, Low-E, Blue Green

Fact Windows specified provide electricity and
natural gas savings by reducing cooling load due
to solar radiation and heating energy loss due to
heat conduction through the glass.
5
Increase Insulation R Values

• Wall Insulation
• Increased code minimum of R-7.5 continuous
  insulation
• to R-10 continuous
• Roof Insulation
• Increased code minimum R-17.7 continuous
  insulation
• to R-20 continuous

Fact Increased building insulation levels
improve energy performance.
6
Cool Roof Technology

• Installation of a cool roof reduces heat gain on
  the building and reduces the heat island effect.
• Cool roof used is a white membrane installed on
  95 of the roof surface.

FACT Buildings with light colored roofs can
realize a reduction in cooling energy by as much
as 40.
7
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Energy
Efficient Systems Lighting

• Daylight harvesting technologies
• Direct/Indirect pendant fixtures
• High-bay fixtures with compact fluorescents allow
  instant on-off
• Reduced lighting power densities
• All lighting fixtures manufactured in MA or RI

8
Energy Efficient Systems HVAC

• High Efficiency condensing gas-fired boilers
• Modular design allows staging boilers to match
  heating load
• This 235,000 sq. ft. high school uses less gas
  than one of the districts existing 8 classroom
  elementary schools

9
Energy Efficient Systems HVAC

• Fully reactive controls
• Automated with occupancy controlled VAV boxes
• Demand controlled ventilation in large spaces
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) control fan and
  pump motors
• Hybrid chilled water system
• Multiple condensing DHW heaters
• Centrally located mechanical room
• Variable primary pumping (no secondary pumps)

10
Whitman-Hanson Regional High SchoolRenewable
Energy Systems

• 51 kW PV system
• Evergreen Solar panels manufactured in MA
• Oriented due south at a 29 angle
• Rack system did not require roof penetrations
• Production last year
• equaled 59,219 KWh

11
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Case Study
Summary

• 577,037 KWh electric savings per year relative to
  Code
• 11,719 Therms gas savings per year relative to
  Code
• 100,060 energy cost savings per year
• 972,360 gallons water savings per year relative
  to Code
• 1,109,800 total grants and rebates earned
• 826,853 DOEd / MSBA state incentives
• Net incremental cost to taxpayers (-70,404)

12
Energy Efficiency Programs in Massachusetts