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.

Fact: Smart site design can preserve natural areas, minimize stormwater runoff, control erosion, reduce heat islands, and prevent light pollution.

Site Analysis

Understand solar orientation

Understand wind patterns

Understand natural resources (wetlands) and topography

Energy Efficient Building Design

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

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.

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.

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%.

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

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

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)

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

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)

Energy Efficiency Programs in Massachusetts