Setting the Foundations: Why Sustainability in Schools Matters and How to Start the Process
Implementing sustainable strategies in schools enables children to learn more about the environment and how to protect it early in life. Such schools prioritize energy efficiency, implement passive design strategies, and integrate renewable energy resources such as solar PV panels, serving as educational institutions and real-world examples of environmental stewardship. These initiatives teach students the importance of sustainability, inspiring them to adopt eco-conscious practices and contribute positively to preserving our planet for generations.
ENERlite Consulting’s latest project is a school in Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), where we are striving to embed sustainability as a cornerstone of the design process. SCUSD has Carbon Neutral Guidelines that promote significant energy and carbon reduction in buildings, aligning with CALGreen requirements. Carbon-neutral schools require an integrated design process and highly structured collaboration among those who plan, design, construct, use, operate, and maintain them. ENERlite Consulting will provide building performance simulation, energy analysis, embodied carbon analysis, CALGreen, and CA T-24 energy modeling for this project.
Photograph copyright Robert Benson, courtesy of Perkins Eastman
The SCUSD has requirements regarding energy and carbon emission reduction in schools. All value engineering decisions must consider life cycle costs; CALGreen requires that embodied carbon emissions be reduced by 10% from a Baseline (effective July 1, 2024). In terms of energy consumption reduction, the District targets new buildings to have an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 19 to 24 kBtu/sf-yr and for major renovations, to have an EUI of 25-35 kBtu/sf-yr. The SCUSD Median EUI is 35 kBtu/sf-yr (2018-2019), which means a 45% reduction in energy consumption in new buildings. To go beyond the District’s requirement and meet the 2030 Challenge and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) requirement, the design team should significantly reduce the EUI of the proposed building.
This graph shows the Energy Reduction Goal in the Sacramento City Unified District, going beyond it to meet the Architecture 2030 Challenge and Net Zero Energy goals.
Another key consideration is to start early to apply for existing incentive programs for your project. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) incentives are available in this area. Building owners can receive up to $250,000 under the Integrative Design Solution and Advanced Commercial Solution programs. In all-electric buildings, the design team receives up to $10,000.
Visit our website to see how ENERlite Consulting can help your project achieve sustainability goals and comply with regulatory requirements.
