Operational experience of several schools
designed with energy efficiency as a design
criteria is discussed in this paper. Actual
monthly energy usage and cost are provided. Annual
energy cost performance ($/ft^2-yr) and energy
performance (BTU/FT^2-yr) of these example case
study schools with flexible mechanical and
electrical systems are compared to published design
performance guidelines and similar schools
constructed without energy efficiency as a design
criteria. The authors have conducted energy
studies of more than 400 schools which serve as a
comparative data base range of performance.
Of the schools compared, those with the
lowest operating cost and energy usage employed
flexible HVAC systems which inherently provided for
control of electrical demand. The resulting
electrical demand profile of most of theme case
study schools were relatively constant throughout
the year which is uncommon to most schools. The
design approach employed to achieve lowar operating
costs and inherent demand control is a hybrid HVAC
system with a designed mixture or balance between
electric and natural gas energy sources.
The summary of this paper will compare
operating cost performance, energy performance,
HVAC system type of the case study schools, eight
schools with water source heat pumps, and other
data base schools with various other types of HVAC
systems. Design guidelines for energy efficient
schools are presented