by jbs120109d3 — December 4, 2009 The Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) now incorporates major renovations to existing buildings into its protocol criteria, Northeast-CHPS 2.0, in addition to new construction projects. More communities throughout the Northeast planning for school modernization projects can now recognize the health, environmental and economic benefits of a high-performance school, says the organization.
Modeled after California’s pioneering CHPS guide, Northeast-CHPS 2.0 is a set of building and design standards for the construction or renovation of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, healthy school facilities from pre-K through community colleges.
The protocol was developed collaboratively by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) with input from stakeholders across the region. While the CHPS protocol is nationally recognized for excellence in building standards, the protocol takes into account regional and state anomalies to make it relevant for the diverse needs of communities, and the priorities of the departments of education across the country, says NEEP.
Northeast-CHPS specifies performance standards and best practices for energy-efficient, sustainable school building design and construction. It continues to place a special focus on the policy and operations of high-performance schools, outlining policies that schools can adopt to ensure their buildings operate as intended.
Schools may now earn credits for implementing plans for carbon footprinting and achieving zero net energy status by the year 2030. New elective features also encourage schools to attain superior energy performance and maximize the benefits of renewable energy technologies. Basic changes to the school environment, such as implementing a “dark campus” policy that keeps all interior and exterior lighting off after hours, can have dramatic benefits for the bottom line and the health of the planet, notes NEEP.
States in the region are recognizing the health, economic and physical benefits of supporting schools to build to high-performance standards. For example, school districts in New Hampshire may receive up to an additional three percent in state construction aid for completion of projects that build to Northeast CHPS criteria, and Rhode Island has adopted Northeast CHPS as the design standard for all school construction in the state.
