A Case for Sustainability

In these tough economic times, everyone is dealing with budget cuts, including schools and colleges. While some institutions are using the economy as an excuse to shy away from sustainable design, others choose to concentrate on the potential savings. These savings can range from reduced utility costs by improving operational efficiencies and performance, costs avoided by mitigating health and safety risks, to money saved due to improved recruitment and retention — not to mention improved productivity, performance and morale.

For many institutions, energy savings is at the top of their to-do list. With the annual energy bill for elementary and secondary schools topping $6 billion, with another $2 billion being spent at the college and university level, the savings can be huge. Most reports state that energy management strategies have been shown to lower energy bills by 30 percent or more. This would add up to a savings of $2.4 billion dollars — or more — to reinvest in education.

To optimize energy use, The National Institute of Building Science Whole Building Design Guide Sustainable Committee suggests a comprehensive, integrated perspective that seeks to do the following.
  • Reduce heating, cooling and lighting loads through climate-responsive design and conservation practices.
  • Employ renewable energy sources such as daylighting, passive solar heating, photovoltaic, geothermal and groundwater cooling.
  • Specify efficient HVAC and lighting systems that consider part-load conditions and utility interface requirements.
  • Optimize building performance by employing energy modeling programs and optimize system control strategies by using occupancy sensors CO2 sensors and other air quality alarms.
  • Monitor project performance through a policy of commissioning, metering, annual reporting and periodic recommissioning.

This issue of School Planning & Management will focus on stories that will help you create a healthy, productive learning environment; improve absenteeism and teacher turnover; protect the environment; and the silver lining — save your school money.

Featured

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • StarRez Releases 2025 State of Student Housing Report

    Student housing software solutions provider StarRez recently released its second State of the Student Housing Industry Report, according to a news release. The report is based on the results of survey data from more than 400 higher education institutions around the world, both StarRez clients and not.

  • Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis Through Creative Campus Development

    Many Southern California college and university campuses are living amidst surging housing costs, driving the need to house more of their populations on campus. Especially for community colleges, the need to support millions of unhoused and housing insecure students has become a prominent issue that lawmakers and institutions alike are trying to solve.

  • Singlewire Software Report Reveals Gaps in K–12 School Entrance Security

    Single Software recently released its first-ever School Entrance Security Report based on more than 500 responses from U.S. school staff members. According to a news release, the findings highlight a gap between K–12 leaders’ wishes for school safety and how safe the schools actually are, as well as the challenges facing students and staff in that goal.

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