A full 16 percent of school districts’ controllable costs is spent on energy. A new publication written specifically for K-12 school buildings is designed to aid design teams in constructing energy-smart schools using off-the-shelf technology that can cut energy use 30 percent or more annually.

The Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), instructs architects, engineers, contractors, and others on building design teams on how to use best design practices to create energy-saving buildings. Written in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the book is available for free in electronic form at www.ashrae.org/freeaedg. Hard copies are available for purchase.

ASHRAE and its partners are sending more than 14,000 complimentary copies of the publication to school district officials nationwide to assist with the design of energy-efficient schools that create safe and comfortable environments conducive to learning.

“Many schools throughout the country have increased energy efficiency, cut costs, and reduced their environmental footprints through energy-efficiency measures,” says Paul Torcellini, chair of the committee that wrote the book. “Many others, however, still spend more money on energy than they do on educational supplies. It’s like money just goes out the single-pane windows or through the poorly insulated ceiling. Just think of all the things a school could do each year with the money it saves on energy: buy more books and computers, increase teachers’ salaries, upgrade the media center and gymnasium . . . the list goes on and on.”

The publication features easy-to-follow recommendations for various climate zones and how-to implementation tips via a series of real-life school construction case studies. Included are suggested steps for achieving LEED energy credits and supplemental strategies for achieving advanced energy savings beyond 30 percent.

To order a print version, visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Publication date: 03/24/2008