Oyster River Middle School: What’s Net Zero, Anyway?

Durham Energy Committee
May Update

Developing The New ORCSD Middle School Vision

What’s “Net Zero” anyway?

Part of the proposed ORCSD Middle School vision is to strive for the new middle school to be “Net Zero”.  What does this phrase “Net Zero” refer to?  It could mean any of several things.

A Net-Zero-Energy building, which produces at least the same amount of energy as it consumes on an annual basis at the building site. 
Net-Zero Energy-carbon, where a building uses energy that produces no carbon footprint,  i.e., “zero emissions” annually.
Net-Zero Energy-cost, where a building produces and sells enough energy to balance the amount the building spends on energy annually.
Net-Zero Energy electricity, where renewable energy systems produce the same amount of electricity as a building uses annually.

Taking a Deeper Look At Net Zero

So, what are the most important qualities of Net-Zero buildings? 

First, by using less energy, Net Zero buildings emit virtually no carbon into the atmosphere.  This is important, since buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of the nation’s energy consumption (and carbon emissions).

Second, if “energy-frugal” construction results in reduced energy consumption costs, the difference can be considered the return on investment.  Some energy-frugal strategies pay for themselves more slowly than others; low “e” windows are expensive and will have a relatively long energy cost payback (15-20 years) compared with insulation (3-6 years).  However, when considered with other energy-frugal measures such as enhanced insulation, photovoltaics, solar thermal systems or wind energy, all of the energy related components taken together can achieve an aggregate energy payback in the 8 to 10-year range.     

Third, constructing energy-frugal systems into a building at its inception avoids having to spend money correcting energy deficiencies ten, twenty or thirty years from now.  In other words, if the ultimate goal is to be efficient, why not build it into the design in the first place, and avoid costly renovations in the future?

Schools which strive to be Net Zero present special teaching opportunities to our students in showing the importance of reducing energy consumption, and how to achieve such a significant goal.  They also can serve as models for all of us to practice frugal-energy practice elsewhere; in other words, why stop with a Net Zero school, when whole towns are now becoming Net Zero?   

Designing a Net Zero school has its special challenges.   At the forefront is the need to design a facility which provides a healthy indoor environment for its occupants, particularly with regard to fresh air, heating, cooling, lighting and humidity levels.  Here the idea is to incorporate highly efficient mechanical, electrical, lighting and controls systems equipment into the building design to provide a healthy interior environment and minimize energy consumption, powered in part by on-site renewable energy sources.  Schools with healthy environmental conditions have been proven to result in enhanced learning performance for students.

There is no doubt that the vision of a Net-Zero Oyster River Middle School is a great challenge.   There is also no doubt that Net Zero schools (and Net Zero towns) are already being built around the country by communities committed to responsible stewardship of the environment.  As this project develops we will have more opportunities to better see the benefits and feasibility of building a Net Zero facility.  

RESOURCES

If you are interested in finding out current trends with Net Zero facilities, there are many, many resources available.  Here are just a few places you can explore:

ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) is a leader in supporting Net Zero; they publish a journal focusing on High Performance Buildings entitled HPB Magazine.  You can find it here:

http://www.hpbmagazine.org/Energy-Mechanical-Systems/?previewmode=on 

EERE (U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) is a good resource for Net Zero buildings in general:

https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-buildings

NBI (New Buildings Institute) is located in Portland, Oregon.  Their website includes numerous resources about Net Zero schools:

https://newbuildings.org/hubs/zero-net-energy/

WGBC (World Green Building Council) is a group of seventy nations, each with organizations supporting green energy practice.  Want to see what’s happening in Morocco?  Check this out:

https://www.worldgbc.org/advancing-net-zero/what-net-zero