High Performance Sustainable Schools Workshop scheduled for March
FRANKFORT, Ky.—Registration is now open for the High Performance School Buildings Workshop. The workshop, hosted by the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence (DEDI) and the Kentucky National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, is dedicated to providing information for school decision makers and will be held March 23-24 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, Ky.
“Kentucky has quickly moved from the end of the line to the front of the pack nationally in energy conservation, thanks in large part to innovative, informative programs like the High Performance Sustainable School Buildings workshops,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “With almost 50 schools across the state having earned the ENERGY STAR, it’s clear that sustainable schools not only have a positive ‘green’ impact today, but teach children how to live their lives as responsible environmental stewards.”
“Schools are built to educate our students. High performance schools are built to better educate students and reduce operating costs over the life of the building,” said Greg Guess, DEDI director of the Division of Efficiency and Conservation. “The design phase of a school building is the most economical time a district will ever have to capture those savings.”
“The traditional design approach sets minimum requirements, but doesn’t push design teams to come up with the best achievable design,” says keynote speaker Mike Spearnak, Poudre School District (Colorado) Director of Planning, Design and Construction. Spearnak and other featured speakers will describe strategies used to create schools that set a new standard in learning environments, yet fit within a typical school budget.
Workshop to Feature Site Visits
Site visits to local high- performance schools will be part of each day’s program, providing school leaders with a first-hand look at high performance buildings. Design teams responsible for the projects will describe how the district achieved these high performance goals to:
- Reduce operating costs;
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
- Increase health and comfort for students and staff;
- Utilize emerging technologies;
- Harvest daylight; and
- Create student energy teams.
School superintendents, board members, facilities managers, architects and engineers are encouraged to attend. The high-performance concept is rooted in a whole-building approach that integrates multiple energy-saving strategies early in the design process. It requires all stakeholders to be part of the project from the inception of design. To register please call 859-547-8008 or go to http://www.energy.ky.gov/media/events.htm.
Kentucky NEED is funded by the Department for Energy Development and Independence American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, through the U.S. Department of Energy. Kentucky NEED helps achieve the goals set by Gov. Beshear’s Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future: Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy, which includes job creation, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, renewable energy generation deployment and increased energy efficiency. Registration information is available online at: http://www.energy.ky.gov, click on “Events” link.
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