Dear Editor,
As we look forward to the opening of the new Owego Elementary School in early January, we want to address features in the design of the building that make it a state-of-the-art facility. A number of those features promote energy efficiency, which will make for a very comfortable building, will save substantially on the cost of running the school, and will make it environmentally friendly.
Starting from the top, literally, the EPDM roof, made of a white rubber membrane installed on the flat areas of the building, has an R-Value between 18 and 28, (based on the pitch to the drains). R-Value measures thermal resistance or insulating capacity. The typical R-Value for residential construction is between 13 and 20.
There are double layers of wall and roof insulation throughout the new building, more than double that of the old school. The composite insulation panels (or CIP) have an R-Value of 20 and the panels that go over them have an R-Value of 13. The metal roof has an R-Value of 48.
The thickness of the building’s windowpanes gives a much higher insulating value over the standard two-pane technology. The window glass also provides for a widespread passive solar effect. At all levels the walls, roof areas and windows in the new school building substantially exceed code requirements.
The entire building – both inside and outside – utilizes LED lighting, which is estimated to be nearly 70 percent more efficient than traditional lighting.
Inside the building, “daylight harvesting” sensors are employed throughout, and are linked to the school’s automated lighting system, which operates using dimmers and occupancy sensors (when a room is not occupied, the lights will shut off). And when light enters the classrooms through the windows, the LED lighting inside will be dimmed automatically to an optimal light level. The result is better lighting at a fraction of the cost.
Like at our middle school, the new OES will make use of a geothermal heating and cooling system. Taking advantage of the heating (and cooling) properties of the earth, this system provides heating (or cooling) fluid at a fraction of the cost of using gas-fired boilers or electrical air-conditioning units. Industry experts estimate a cost savings over traditional systems of 50 percent to 70 percent, year after year.
In classrooms, we will be utilizing radiant heating in the floor. This is the healthiest method of heating because the heat radiates into the room rather than introducing forced air. Another advantage to using radiant heat is that because you’re warming the floors of the classrooms, the heat is starting low – where young children go about their days – before the heat rises throughout the rooms.
In some areas, however, there are alternative heating sources. For example, the gymnasium, the auditorium and the cafeteria have separate heating/cooling systems. Each occupied space in the building can be regulated separately using a sophisticated digital control system.
All of our HVAC equipment is highly efficient, as well, and is controlled by motor drives and a building automation system. This allows the equipment to run only as fast, and as long, as it’s needed. When there is no demand for heat from our condensing boilers, for example, the system will regulate itself and in the process, will conserve energy. That system also measures CO2 levels in each occupied space. It then introduces fresh air when oxygen levels dip too low. That fresh air is sterilized before it enters the building, lowering the level of germs and mold spores in the school’s air supply.
All in all, the building will be remarkably comfortable and healthy. All occupied areas also employ soundproofing, so it will be very quiet, even when several hundred children are present. And it will take advantage of modern technology to be much more efficient, at a fraction of the cost of an older-generation building.
Sincerely,
Stephen Jensen
Public Information Coordinator, Owego Apalachin Schools
