In August 2010, Richardsville Elementary School opened its doors to students of the Warren County Public School District in Bowling Green, Ky. The brand new, state-of-the-art $14.4 million facility features natural light, geothermal HVAC and hot water generation, an Energy Star-rated kitchen, a super-insulated building envelope, and many other green features.
But what sets the school apart is its distinction as the nation’s first-ever net-zero public school. In fact, the 82,000-square-foot building — which uses on-site solar panels to generate power — produces 108 percent of the energy it uses.