The U.S. Department of Energy released six new guidebooks in a series of publications that aim to help school districts save money on utility bills by designing energy-efficient facilities compatible with specific regional climates.

Like the first issue, Energy Guidelines for High Performance Schools: Hot and Dry Climates, the new publications are for design staff, school boards, and administrators to make informed design decisions about energy and environmental issues.

David Garman, assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, officially released the regional guidelines for:
• Temperate and Humid Climates
• Cool and Dry Climates
• Hot and Humid Climates
• Cool and Humid Climates
• Temperate and Mixed Climates
• Cold and Humid Climates.

In a press release, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham noted that schools spend more than $6 billion on energy costs per year, and that the guidelines would help lower their energy bills by 25 percent.

The department developed the guidelines after two years of discussions about the best energy-saving processes with architects, school administrators, teachers, developers, and others with a stake in school design. Each booklet runs about 90 pages and features checklists of key issues such as lighting and electrical systems, recycling systems, efficient building shells, and waste management.

National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools
Garman also unveiled the National Best Practices Manual for High Performance Schools. The 450-page publication was developed specifically for architects and engineers who are responsible for designing or retrofitting schools and for the project managers who work with the design teams. It is organized into 10 chapters covering design disciplines and goals and offers checklists, case studies, charts, and photographs.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.