National Best Practices Manual For Building High Performance Schools

Introduction to the Manual

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Rebuild America EnergySmart Schools program provides school boards, administrators, and design staff with guidance to help make informed decisions about energy and environmental issues important to school systems and communities. The National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools is a part of the suite of products developed to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in schools. It was developed specifically for architects and engineers who are responsible for designing or retrofitting schools, and for the project managers who work with the design teams.

The Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools, available for seven climate zones across the United States, was developed for school boards, administrators, and design staff to helpmake informed design decisions about energy and environmental issues important to school systems and communities. To obtain a copy of the Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools for a particular climate zone (shown in the map on the following page), contact the U.S. Department of  Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) at 800-DOE-EREC (800363-3732).

The characteristics of a high performance school reflect a mix of environmental, economic, and social objectives. The design process used to achieve high performance schools is fundamentally differentfrom conventional practice. To be most effective, this process requires a significant commitment on the part of design professionals to:

ƒ Meet energy and environmental performance criteria.

ƒ Maintain a view of the building and site as a seamless whole within the context of its community.

ƒ Work with the understanding that the building exists within the context of a natural ecosystem even when the setting is urban. ƒ

Incorporate interdisciplinary collaboration throughout the design and construction process. ƒ

Maximize student performance by keeping standards high for air quality and increasing the use of daylighting. ƒ

Integrate all significant building design decisions and strategies — beginning no later than the programming phase.

Optimize design choices through simulations, models, or other design tools.

ƒ Employ life-cycle cost analysis in all decision making.

ƒ Design all systems to be easy to maintain and operate.

ƒ Commission all building equipment and systems to assure continued optimum performance.

ƒ Document high performance materials and techniques in the building so that maintenance and repairs can be made in accordance with the original design intent. ƒ

Encourage resource-efficient construction operations and building maintenance. ƒ

Provide clear guidance, documentation, and training for operation and maintenance staff.

Introduction to the Manual

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1

The Design Process

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2

Integrated Design

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4

Goals and Cross-Cutting Issues

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6

Commissioning, Operation, and Maintenance

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19

Material Selection and Research

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21

General Purpose Design and Evaluation Tools

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24

Anatomy of a Guideline

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25

Climates

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27

Site Design

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29

Overview

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33

Guideline SD1: Optimum Building Orientation

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41

Guideline SD2: Landscaping to Provide Shade to HVAC Equipment, Buildings, and Paved Areas

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42

Guideline SD3: Landscape Design and Management

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43

Guideline SD4: Impervious Surfaces

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44

Guideline SD5: Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants

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45

Guideline SD6: Landscaping Soil, Amendments, and Mulch

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46

Guideline SD7: Integrated Weed, Disease, and Pest Management

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48

Guideline SD8: Environmentally Responsible Job-Site Operations Plan

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51

Guideline SD9: Indoor Air Quality During Construction

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53

Guideline SD10: Site Protection During Construction

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56

Daylighting and Windows

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65

Overview

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66

Guideline DL1: View Windows

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81

Guideline DL2: High Sidelighting—Clerestory

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86

Guideline DL3: High Sidelighting—Clerestory with Light Shelf or Louvers

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90

Guideline DL4: Classroom Daylighting—Wall Wash Toplighting

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95

Guideline DL5: Central Toplighting

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99

Guideline DL6: Patterned Toplighting

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103

Guideline DL7: Linear Toplighting

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106

Guideline DL8: Tubular Skylights

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109

Energy-Efficient Building Shell

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113

Overview

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113

Guideline EB1: Wall Insulation

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128

Guideline EB2: Roof Insulation

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131

Guideline EB3: Cool Roofs

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133

Guideline EB4: Radiant Barriers

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137

Guideline EB5: Air Barriers and Other Methods to Reduce Infiltration

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139

Guideline EB6: Concrete Masonry

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143

Lighting and Electrical Systems

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145

Overview

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145

Guideline EL1: Pendant-Mounted Lighting

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165

Guideline EL2: Troffer Lighting

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168

Guideline EL3: Industrial-Style Classrooms

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171

Guideline EL4: Lighting Controls for Classrooms

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174

Guideline EL5: Gym Lighting

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178

Guideline EL6: Corridor Lighting

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182

Guideline EL7: Lighting for a Multi-Purpose Room

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185

Guideline EL8: Lighting for a Library or Media Center

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188

Guideline EL9: Lighting for Offices and Teacher Support Rooms

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191

Guideline EL10: Lighting for Locker and Toilet Rooms

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193

Guideline EL11: Outdoor Lighting

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195

Mechanical and Ventilation Systems

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199

Overview

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199

Guideline MV1: Cross Ventilation

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217

Guideline MV2: Stack Ventilation

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222

Guideline MV3: Ceiling Fans

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225

Guideline MV4: Gas/Electric Split System

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229

Guideline MV5: Packaged Rooftop System

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233

Guideline MV6: Displacement Ventilation System

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237

Guideline MV7: Hydronic Ceiling Panel System

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240

Guideline MV8: Unit Ventilator System

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244

Guideline MV9: Ductless Split System

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248

Guideline MV10: Evaporative Cooling System

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251

Guideline MV11: VAV Reheat System

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254

Guideline MV12: Radiant Slab System

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258

Guideline MV13: Baseboard Heating System

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261

Guideline MV14: Gas-Fired Radiant Heating System

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264

Guideline MV15: Water-Loop Heat Pumps

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266

Guideline MV16: Evaporatively Precooled Condenser

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268

Guideline MV17: Dedicated Outside Air Systems

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270

Guideline MV18: Economizers

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272

Guideline MV19: Air Distribution Design Guidelines

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275

Guideline MV20: Duct Sealing and Insulation

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281

Guideline MV21: Hydronic Distribution

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283

Guideline MV22: Chilled Water Plants

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287

Guideline MV23: Boilers

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293

Guideline MV24: Adjustable Thermostats

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296

Guideline MV25: EMS/DDC

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298

Guideline MV26: Demand Controlled Ventilation

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301

Guideline MV27: CO Sensors for Garage Exhaust Fans

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303

Guideline MV28: Timers for Recirculating Hot Water Systems

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305

Renewable Energy Systems

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307

Overview

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307

Guideline RE1: Passive Heating and Cooling

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309

Guideline RE2: Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems

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312

Guideline RE3: Solar Pool Heating

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315

Guideline RE4: Wind

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319

Guideline RE5: Geothermal Heat Pumps

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323

Guideline RE6: Photovoltaics

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327

Water Conservation

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333

Overview

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333

Guideline WC1: Water-Efficient Irrigation Systems

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336

Guideline WC2: Stormwater Management, Groundwater Management, and Drainage Materials

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338

Guideline WC3: Rainwater Collection Systems

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341

Guideline WC4: Gray Water Systems

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346

Guideline WC5: Waterless Urinals

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350

Guideline WC6: Efficient Terminal Devices

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352

Recycling Systems and Waste Management

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355

Overview

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355

Guideline RS1: Paper, Plastics, Glass, and Aluminum Recycling

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356

Guideline RS2: Composting

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359

Guideline RS3: Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management

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364

Transportation

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367

Overview

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367

Alternative fuels

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368

Guideline TR1: Transportation and Site Design

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371

Guideline TR2: Alternative Fuel Vehicles

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373

Resource-Efficient Building Products

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375

Overview

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375

Guideline BP1: Carpeting

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391

Guideline BP2: Resilient Flooring

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396

Guideline BP3: Ceramic Tile / Terrazzo

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399

Guideline BP4: Concrete Flooring

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402

Guideline BP5: Wood Flooring

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404

Guideline BP6: Bamboo Flooring

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407

Guideline BP7: Gypsum Board

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409

Guideline BP8: Acoustical Wall Panels and Ceilings

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411

Guideline BP9: Paints and Coatings

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414

Guideline BP10: Casework and Trim

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417

Guideline BP11: Interior Doors

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420

Guideline BP12: Toilet Partitions

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422

Commissioning And Maintenance

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423

Introduction

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423

What Exactly Is Building Commissioning?

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423

Commissioning Approaches

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424

Benefits of Commissioning

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425

Costs of Building Commissioning

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427

Savings from Building Commissioning

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427

Selecting a Commissioning Provider

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428

The Commissioning Team

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432

Commissioning Phases

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435

Operation and Maintenance for Persistence

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440

List of Commissioning References and Resources

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448