by Brianna Crandall — October 1, 2014—The Sacramento, California-based Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) recently released the fourth edition of the California CHPS Criteria for New Construction and Modernizations (CA-CHPS) , integrating the Title 24 Energy Standards and CALGreen. Schools designed according to CA-CHPS Criteria emphasize indoor air quality, natural lighting and excellent acoustics in order to maximize student and staff health, comfort and achievement/productivity.
“Numerous studies have been conducted on the impact of school facilities on children’s health and productivity, and the results are unequivocal,” notes Aaron Jobson, co-chair of CHPS’ California Advisory Committee. “From ventilation to natural light to the use of nontoxic chemicals, how we design and operate our schools has a tremendous impact on our kids. This new version of CA-CHPS incorporates the latest thinking of architects, engineers, and state agencies on how best to construct the next generation of schools that are healthy, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly.”
There are a number of key advances in this new version of the CA-CHPS Criteria:
- Establishes indoor environmental quality (IEQ) as the top priority;
- Embraces design toward zero net energy;
- Adds an Operations and Metrics category to ensure actual performance of high performance schools and the continued realization of benefits over time;
- Streamlines the CHPS Verified documentation process through the adoption of a plansheet approach;
- Offers the High Performance Transition Plan as a pathway for incremental improvement and recognition for schools that undertake a series of renovation/modernization projects; this is an extremely important element because with the passage of Proposition 39, $2.5 billion will be spent over the next five years on energy efficiency retrofits of existing California schools; and
- Includes new California-specific credits for a District Sustainability Plan, Active Energy Management for Energy Efficiency, School Farm, Rainwater Catchment, and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging station.
CHPS says it is particularly grateful to utility sponsors Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison.
The Collaborative for High Performance Schools believes kids learn better in schools with good lighting, clean air, and comfortable classrooms. The goal of CHPS is to fundamentally change the design, construction and operation of schools to protect student and staff health; conserve energy, water, and other natural resources; and reduce waste, pollution, and environmental degradation. To date, over two hundred CHPS Verified schools have been built nationwide.
