Energy
Renewable Energy as a Component of a Green Building - Go the Extra Mile
Installing on-site renewable energy systems are only one of many things that
can be done to improve the environmental quality of energy use at a school.
As we discussed in early sections, energy efficiency improvements can also play
a major role in greening a school’s energy by simply using less to begin with.
But, in addition to these components, there is also the bigger picture. The
size and cost of a renewable energy system and the effectiveness of energy
efficiency both depend on the overall construction of the building. The
materials used, the type of installation, the style of roof, the positioning of
windows, and countless other factors affect how well a school retains the energy
inside it and how well energy is distributed throughout the building. Both
heat and electric energy use are influenced by building design. A building
that is designed to maximize the energy it uses is called a “green
building.” But green buildings also maximize their efficiency with
other resources they consume, such as water and products that become waste.
In addition, they maximize indoor air quality and environmental health so that
the building is as healthy as possible for its occupants.
We dedicate a section of Blueprint for a Green School to
resources that help your school become a "green building". These
resources can help your existing school become a green school or can help you in
planning for a brand new green school. If you take on the challenge to
make your school green, you’ll find that many of the resources already mentioned
here in this Energy section for upgrading energy efficiency or installing an
on-site renewable energy system can also be used to help push for the
overall goal of a greener building. For example,
Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager can track water consumption, general
building improvements, and
LEED
requirements in addition to helping you weigh energy efficiency upgrade
projects. Similarly, a portion of the Department of Energy’s
EnergySmart Schools Program can be used solely to help with installing an
on-site renewable energy system, or can be used to help improve the entire
building, where on-site renewable energy is just one of many goals.
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Aiming for long-term goals of achieving a green building can actually save a
substantial amount of money!
A Capital E study
co-sponsored by the American Institute of
Architects reported that schools designed to be environmentally friendly
would cost an average of $100,000 less annually to operate. The
Department of Energy has also chimed in with
their own estimate of savings, reporting that high-performance schools that use
less energy and reduce their environmental impact pay 50% less in operating
costs.
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