Energy-Efficient Solution Helps Keep School Warm -- Spaces4Learning

pK12

Energy-Efficient Solution Helps Keep School Warm

09/01/15

Mitsubishi Electric helped give Hollis Montessori both energy efficiency and a great teaching tool for its students.

The Hollis Montessori School (Hollis Montessori), Hollis, N.H., is the first independent school in the country to receive Passive House certification. This certification denotes the school’s extreme energy efficiency and means the facility has met rigorous energy-saving standards. Students have been particularly interested in the equipment on the walls that keeps their classrooms comfortable and their school compliant with Passive House standards. That equipment is part of a Hyper-Heating INVERTER™ (H2i®) system from Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Cooling & Heating Division (Mitsubishi Electric).

Mitsubishi Electric was selected as the brand of choice because “the availability of hyper- heating was really important given the rough northeast winters. We also like the track record of performance and reliability with Mitsubishi [Electric], and their extensive service network relative to other manufacturers,” says Jordan Goldman, principal of ZeroEnergy Design (who led the Passive House consultation). Frank Grossman, president, board of directors at Hollis Montessori adds, “Mitsubishi [Electric] also wouldn’t need backup heat.”

Installation “went very smoothly,” says Grossman. Outdoor units were put on stands to maintain efficiency during New Hampshire’s snowy winters. Indoor units were mounted to the wall of each 1,400-square-foot classroom to “simplify the distribution without sacrificing any thermal comfort at all,” said Goldman.

Grossman explains that the school “also added sub-panels throughout the building where students can find out what energy their classroom is using compared to other classrooms.”

Students occasionally ask for the data, which they can see on tablets. It makes them both excited and curious. They try to figure out why one classroom is using more energy than another. The upper elementary kids also do units on energy and are educated about the heat pump system.

www.mitsubishipro.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.
Tennessee State University Gains Approval for New Engineering Facility

Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., recently announced that it has received approval from the Tennessee State Building Commission to build a new engineering building on campus, according to a university news release. The 70,000-square-foot, $50-million facility will play home to the university’s engineering programs and the Applied & Industrial Technology program.
Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.
Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.