CHPS Core Criteria v3.0 Now Open for Public Comment

  • 10/25/18

Sacramento – The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) released the public review draft of its Core Criteria v3.0. This newest update is now open for public comment through December 10, 2018. The third edition of the school-oriented green building rating system builds upon the CHPS 2014 Core Criteria guidelines currently in practice and incorporates recent changes in construction and building materials technology. It also adds additional credits to specifically address lowering school buildings’ carbon footprint through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promoting resiliency to climate change.

The CHPS Core Criteria, and its state and regional versions, were the first green building rating programs developed especially for school learning environments. These guidelines continue to be the only school-specific rating system that prioritizes student performance in its monitoring and bench-marking tools.

The criteria address site and materials selection, energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, waste reduction, and operations management. They also provide sustainable policies and innovations that can be adopted by schools and districts.

“CHPS supports healthy, high performance schools through its Core Criteria, which set robust standards for schools for indoor air quality, natural lighting, acoustics, energy efficiency, and use of clean building materials. All of these not only make our school buildings safer and healthier, but also provide beautiful, comfortable, and stimulating spaces for our children to learn and thrive,” said Elisabeth Krautscheid, Managing Director of CHPS.

“Our experience has proven that kids learn better in healthy, well designed and operated schools. The Collaborative for High Performance Schools works with school districts and industry practitioners across the U.S. to foster the development and implementation of national and regional standards for K-12 educational facilities to ensure that every child has the best possible learning environment with the smallest impact on the planet.”

What is New in the Third Edition? 

The Third Edition of the CHPS Core Criteria features an all new format with improved readability and organization. The 2018 update includes a deep review of all 2014 criteria and updated references to external standards. Several criteria have been substantially rewritten to reflect changes in technology and current professional best practices. Six new credits have been added, which include: Energy Resiliency, Design for Adaptation & Resilience, Low/Zero Carbon Schools, Enhanced Ventilation, Circadian Lighting, and Toxin-Free Plumbing. And, an emphasis on climate resilience and adaptability is added throughout. The CHPS recognition programs, CHPS DesignedTM and CHPS VerifiedTM, have been enhanced to better accommodate non-classroom projects (to acknowledge their variety and value) and additions (as part of larger-scope renovations or new construction). Overall, the Core Criteria v3.0 proves to be the most comprehensive and technical update that CHPS has undergone in its history.

How to Submit Review Comments

All members of the public are welcome to review the draft Core Criteria v3.0 and submit their comments. CHPS members and stakeholders are especially encouraged to participate in this process, which include architects, engineers, building professionals, green product manufacturers, utilities, government regulators, advocacy groups, researchers, schools, districts, teachers, students, and parents. Reviewers may submit their comments via an online Excel Template or create their own document and email it to CHPS at comments@chps.net. Comments should be organized by category, criterion number and title, and page number. See the Excel template link for example.
The Core Criteria v3.0 2018 update will adhere to the following timeline:

  1. The draft public review document will be posted on the CHPS website for a 45-day review period - October 24 through December 10, 2018.
  2. After the review period closes, public comments will be considered for acceptance and voted on by the CHPS National Technical Committee. 
  3. The second draft Core Criteria v3.0 will be open for an additional 15-day public review in late January 2019.
  4. The CHPS Board of Directors will then consider and vote on the adoption of the finalized version of the CHPS Core Criteria v3.0 at its next Board meeting in early spring 2019.
  5. The final version of Core Criteria v3.0 will be published immediately following board approval.

For questions about CHPS or the CHPS Core Criteria public review process, please contact us at: comments@chps.net or 415-957-9888.

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