USGBC Annual Conference Arizona Chapter March 20, 2013 The New Colonel Smith Middle School Complex Arizona’s First Net Zero School
Dec 16, 2015
USGBC Annual ConferenceArizona ChapterMarch 20, 2013
The New Colonel
Smith Middle School
Complex
Arizona’s First
Net ZeroSchool
The Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District:1,300 Students
Grades K-8
Students are primarily from military families
Located 45 minutes southeast of Tucson, Arizona
Located on the U.S. Army’s leading intelligence training installation
Educational Leadership from the Superintendent
Conceptual Vision
A state of the art middle school to house grades 6, 7 and 8 whose instructional program is driven by technology. To us a
“Technology Driven School” has two components. One is centered around the INSTRUCTIONAL opportunities of
technology. And the second is driven by CONSTRUCTION and OPERATIONAL opportunities of technology.
21st Century Learning Concepts
Learning opportunities enhanced through technology
Collaborative instructional space supports active student
engagement
Communities of global inquiry
Instruction is interdisciplinary and
projects-based
Students at the center of the learning processRelevance prevails
Learning experiences are embedded in authenticity
Interactions model meta-cognition
Inquiry based activities using synthesis and analysis
Summary of Instructional Technology• Integrated Delivery of instructional material.
• Inter-Disciplinary study opportunities and instruction.
• Hands-on technology for every student (laptop or iPad).
• This is a ‘Hot Building’. Wirelessly connect throughout. Indoors and out.
• There is a ‘Hottest Spot’ or Nerve Center. This ‘Space’ looms over the classroom spaces. This traditionally would be the media center.
• We recognize that we do not need a library as we know it today.
• We recognize that few textbooks will be needed in our school, especially in the upper grades.
• We believe that technology usage will be different in Grades 6, Grades 7 and Grades 8, as this relates instructional delivery.
• Experimentation is a key to our instructional process.
• Individual and small group work takes place daily, informally and spontaneously.
• Critical skills of thinking, working together and research are paramount. ‘Real world’ collaborative work focus is integral for daily instruction.
• Every space in the building and on the school site must be considered a ‘learning space’. Hallways, walkways, patios, play areas are all opportunities for learning and communication.
• We believe that our school will offer a great sense of security to our students. Our students need their ‘place’, their friends, their opportunity for learning in a safe, secure and perhaps residential scale environment.
• From a comparative standpoint, it is fair to think of the instructional delivery program as a Montessori Program for Middle Schoolers. Individual learning styles, individual progress, interdisciplinary study and exploration and spontaneous learning opportunities all driving the instructional program, with tomorrows technology.
Summary of Building TechnologyThe integration of solar, wind, geothermal and water harvesting and reuse are basic components to the design and operation of this building.
Material selection will be focused on green products and unique furnishings that support technology usage, have a residential feel and scale. Furnishing should be comfortable for students and flexibility in usage.
Construction methodology must be sensitive to the environment on a daily basis. Concern for emissions, handling waste and preserving land and plants must be evident.
The anticipated building systems lead the District to the need for a building management services contract at the time we open the new school to assure safety and cost efficient operation of the new building.
All building systems should lead to learning opportunities. View of building operational systems, color coding, measurement and any other real world opportunity for learning needs to be captured.
Educational ProgramOur Vision:
Real world, authentic Project Based Learning
STEM Driven, integrated, group instruction
Supported by integrated technology
Student Centered, Teacher Facilitated
All based on Dr. Frueauff’s research and experience
Electric, Solar, Water and Wind are all monitored for student study purposes
Design Criteria:
A ‘future proof’ school……….. flexibility
Support Project Based Learning model
Learning must start immediately when student steps on to the site
Every square foot indoor and outdoor must provide a learning opportunity
Support the community environmentally
A sense of ‘Place’ for students
What Net Zero Means to Us
Sustainable Performance of our building.
Real cost savings for the school district.
A learning opportunity for our students.
Doing the right thing for our community.
Project Sustainability PracticesMinimizing energy usage
Daylighting
Managing Stormwater
Harvesting Rainwater
Solar Hot Water
Maximizing energy production with wind and solar
Recycling
Key Sustainable ElementProviding an awareness of sustainable practices and respect
for our environmental resources to STUDENTS.
Students are our most sustainable resource.
ObjectivesNZEB primary principles:• Carefully designed daylighting, turn electric lights off, solar gain
less than electric lighting internal heat gain• Optimized HVAC designed to daylighted building• Control over all other loads, especially computers• Minimum quiescent base load
Procedures• Fully daylight all high-
occupancy-hour spaces• Don’t waste cooling energy on
low-occupancy-hour spaces• Primary source: north sky
clerestories• More lumens per watt than
other daylight orientations• Secondary sources• Shaded south daylight• Diffusing skylights• Windows
Climate and SiteFavorable latitude 31.5° N
High sunshine availability
Moderate temperatures
Low humidity
Unobstructed sky dome
Daylighting by ElementClerestory Skylights
Windows All
StrategyClassrooms
North and south clerestories and windowsSkylights
GymNorth clerestorySkylights
CoreSkylights, clerestory
Typical Classroom Section• Peek-a-boo clerestory• South wall shaded window and
clerestory• Cutoff angle for winter passive
heating• Skylights in side classrooms
(min E and W windows)
NotesDesigned to operate without electric lighting by day in highly occupied spaces
Very efficient dimmable electric lighting is provided with daylighting controls
Spaces not fully daylighted have low hours of general use or useful low light levels
Notes (Continued)
Design target <15,000 BTU/SF/YRMinimal electric lighting day and nightNZEB operation at lowest possible cost for renewable resourceHVAC system size smaller than a conventional designTotal energy use reduced by about one-half
Building Energy Model ProcessHourly Analysis Program (HAP) Version 4.51
Estimating loads and designing systems
Simulating energy use and calculating energy costs
Three-step process
Define building
Create mechanical systems
Run annual simulation
1. Define Building
Building Envelope constructionsIdentify internal loads: Lighting, equipment & peopleDetermine how building is utilized: When lights are on & when people occupy the buildingType of walls, roof and insulationWindow U-ValuesSolar heat gain coefficients
2. Create Mechanical Systems
Group into thermal zones (under control of one thermostat)Calculate outdoor air ventilationAssign appropriate/
desired HVAC equipment: split system DX units or large central air handling units
3. Run Annual Simulation
Identify all items that consume energyEnter accurate fan power and mechanical equipment efficienciesAssign utility rates to electric, natural gas, etc.
THEN HAP estimates annual energy usage & energy costs by simulating building operations based on 8,760 hours in a year
Compare results & costs to determine best design
Design Process
Design Charrette Preliminary Design Schematic Design Final Design
Develop footprint
Generate energy model “shoe box” or generalized shape with approx. dimensions
Lighting densities used
Estimate HVAC equipment
Estimate size of electrical service
Generate building elevations– more accurate estimate of glass and proportions per space
Determine floor to floor ceiling heights
Recalculate heating and cooling loads & refine equipment sizes
Construction materials are known
Set glass performance and R-values
More accurate lighting power density
Know occupied times
Heat generating equipment that affects internal cooling load known
Choose desired wall type
Finalize building envelope, internal loads, people and schedules
Focus shifts to mechanical process
Compare annual operating costs to determine which mechanical option is best
Energy Model Data
Area Gross SFModeled (Net) SF
kBtu w/ GaskBtu/SF Per Year
kBtu w/o GaskBtu/SF Per Year
kWHkWh/SF Per Year
Unit A/B 56,964 43,647 1,191,271 27.29 881,151 20.19 258,251 5.92
Unit C 20,587 19,524 620,422 31.78 349,621 17.91 102,468 5.25
Unit D 11,142 10,612 334,432 31.51 195,727 18.44 57,364 5.41
Total 88,693 73,783 2,146,125 29.09 1,426,499 19.33 418,083 5.67
The results become the baseline control for estimating renewable requirements for achieving net zero monitoring behavior after occupancy for Validation of Building Performance.
Site Concepts
Bird’s-Eye View
Areas of Integrated Technology
1. Instructional
2. Sustainable
3. Building
Collaboration Space- Instructional Technology
Hot Spot
Mobile Interactive White Board
Collaboration Space- Instructional Technology
Collaboration
WallTalkers®
Building Technology
Building Technology
Student Entry
Sustainable Technology
Wind Turbines
Day Lighting
Sustainable Technology
Solar Water Heating
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics
Sustainable SummaryNet Zero Energy
Energy ModeledEnergy Management / DashboardPhotovoltaics for electrical offsetSolar Water Heating for gas offsetWind Turbines for night / storm electrical offsetDaylighting
High Efficiency HVAC Equipment Ceiling Fans Water Harvesting / Native Plant Palette
The Importance of Colonel Smith Middle School Aspiration
Redefine the learning environment for the 21st century
Make environmental awareness central to the curriculumAwareness
Serves as teaching tool for students and the communityPerformance data not
predicted outcomesReal time feedback = timely interventionReal time feedback =
improved performance
Net Zero Energy Building Benefits: • Stabilize future building energy costs• Reduce overall school energy consumption• Building and systems designed as an integral part of the educational
delivery process• Students monitor energy use and generation, wind dynamics and
water harvesting
Group Discussion
Thank You!
Dr. Ronda FrueauffFort Huachuca Schools
Richard Clutter, AIA, REFP, LEED APEmc2 Group Architects Planners, PC