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Healthy High Performance Schools
Healthy High Performance Schools
October 11, 2006
Questions and Answers
A: Such systems are fine as far as they go. We’ve taken the position that they are good for teacher-to-student interchanges, but not necessarily for student-to-student. A new facility should “design-in” good acoustics so neither teachers nor students should need voice enhancement. In existing facilities, this may be more difficult and some form of vocal enhancement may make sense.
Q:Does low-E glazing affect health or performance?
A: I don’t think low-e has any negative health effects. It can affect daylighting performance and efficiency, especially if it is used as the primary source of daylight (for example, if all the daylighting comes from windows). In such cases the daylight contribution provided by the windows must account for the shading provided by the low-e coating. An architect who daylights all his schools uses a combined glazing approach. He designs his classrooms so that all the daylight he needs to ensure that the lights can be turned off for 60% of the time during the day is provided by clear, single pane glazing located in clerestories (above light shelves) and in roof monitors. Vision glazing is essentially “extra” and is designed to provide views and be as energy efficient as possible. Low-e is a good, energy-efficient option in such conditions.
Q: You mentioned the Willow School in NJ-- what city is the school in?
A: The Willow School
1150 Pottersville Road
Gladstone, NJ 07934
Telephone 908-470-9500
Fax 908-470-9545 www.willowschool.org
Q:What is your opinion on outdoor air ventilation rate and its contribution to indoor air quality?
A: In general – and in situations where the outdoor air is not unhealthful – the more outdoor air the better, assuming that its impacts on energy performance are adequately accounted for and optimized.
Q: Are there any good grant programs for helping build a HP school when school districts/officials are unwilling/unable to see the cost benefits up front?
A: The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal grants/incentives programs www.dsireusa.org