A high school in Florida has achieved payback in under 6 years due to low energy use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The school cost $13.2 million and opened it\u2019s 44,820sq ft school in 2019 for more than 400 of Oscelo County\u2019s top STEM Students. The school officials now report that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its energy use intensite rating is 20, versus a US average of 68
Its annual energy savings account to $115,000
The school uses 76% less energy than a typical Florida school
Generates 365kWh and consumes only 346 kWh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Tilt-up concrete construction was used in this build, with it being popular with Florida school officials for it\u2019s economy, durability and installation speed. It\u2019s also a great air barrier, meaning it\u2019s an effective barrier to central Florida\u2019s heat and humidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lead architect, Philip Donovan, AIA had seen the effect of careful detailing on net-zero school projects in Virginia and hoped even more rigorous sealing could yield similar or better results. Sealing was applied around all doors, windows, roof and panel joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donovan explains \u201cBuilding code requires that air leakage must not exceed 0.4 CFM. We specified 0.15 CFM. The testing equipment registered just 0.027 CFM. The testing guys thought their equipment was broken. They had never seen such a low CFM.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The architect also pointed out that other factors that could contribute to the building\u2019s low energy use, from the distributed arrangement of 38 heat pumps to a photovoltaic rooftop array that minimizes thermal bridging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n