Benefits Story

Twenty percent of all people in the United States spend at least part of their day in a school building, and most of those buildings are at least 30 years old. Too often, these schools use more energy than they need to, and they actually work against the learning process, instead of enhancing it. High performance schools are different. They improve the learning environment and cost much less to operate. The benefits are many: 

High performance schools save energy and money.

Because high performance schools are resource efficient, energy bills are less than those of traditional schools. In fact, daylighting-using the sun as a primary light source, with electric lights as a backup-can cut lighting bills by up to 50 percent. A natural ventilation system using fresh air and the local climate to cool a school building helps lighten the load on the HVAC system. Water-saving features also reduce the amount of energy used in pumps. The use of other advanced technologies in heating, cooling and lighting further reduces energy bills.

High performance schools help kids learn.

Natural light is an important component to many high performance schools, and not just for saving electricity.  A recent study of 21,000 school children in Washington, Colorado and California found that students in rooms with the most daylight improved their performance on standardized tests by up to 26 percent. Cleaner indoor air quality means healthier students, too, and some high performance buildings are integrated directly into the curriculum. To learn more:

• Indoor Air Quality: EPA Fact Sheet on Indoor Air Quality and Effect on Student Health
• Daylighting Case Study:Dena Boer Elementary School, Salida, California
• Integrated Education Case Study: Ben Franklin Elementary School, Kirkland, Washington

High performance schools are cost effective.

With careful planning and forethought, high performance schools can be built on any kind of budget and for the same cost as conventional schools. Any additional cost in building a high performance school is usually recouped quickly in the form of energy savings. In fact, the benefits of high performance schools, including lower energy bills, increased productivity and lower absenteeism, can help a school pay for itself many times over. Recent research has shown that high performance features promote productivity, staff retention and the overall well-being of building occupants.

High performance schools are cheaper to operate and maintain.

Because the systems of a high performance school are designed to work together at peak efficiency (unlike the systems of many existing school buildings), maintenance costs can be reduced. Instead of one system trying to compensate for another that isn't working properly, the systems in a high performance school often work as they were intended to-efficiently.

High performance schools are good for the environment and community.

Using recycled and recyclable materials in your school building eliminates waste sent to landfills later. Saving energy also means less pollution. Thoughtful, integrated design can reduce stormwater runoff, protect water quality and the natural habitat surrounding a building. All these features can demonstrate a school's commitment to the local community and help be a valuable learning and community resource.