Paying it forward

Convincing stakeholders to commit to green design requires demonstrating a satisfactory payback period. With ultra-efficient new systems, those paybacks come faster than ever, and that’s especially clear when you’re designing greener schools.

In addition to the immediate benefit of reducing energy usage, building a greener school is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve student learning and reduce a school’s health and operational costs. According to a national review of 30 green schools published by the U.S. Green Building Council,* green schools cost about two percent more – or $3 per square foot – to design and build than conventional schools. The payoffs for the school system, though, are much larger.

Increasing the return on investment

Compared to conventional designs, green schools typically can reduce energy usage by 33 percent. Implementing sustainable design principles such as installation of high-efficiency HVAC equipment and advanced indoor air quality technology can allow green schools to reduce their operational expenses by about $12 per square foot, a return of four times the initial investment.* The savings occur in increased teacher retention, reduced health costs and lower water and energy usage.

An ultra-efficient rooftop unit such as the new Energence™ rooftop from Lennox will provide the most savings in heating and cooling expenses. Rated as high as 17.0 SEER and 12.8 EER, the new units exceed ASHRAE 90.1-2010 minimum standards by more than 30 percent. Optional, high-efficiency MERV 13 filters help protect air quality and can help qualify for additional LEED points.

Communities benefit from green schools, as well: with reduced air and water pollution, and a better-educated workforce. In fact, the USGBC found that the complete financial savings to be about $70 per square foot.

Lennox offers a complete guide to choosing HVAC systems for sustainable buildings available here.

Source: US Green Building Council, "Build Green Schools"