Client: The Abell Foundation

Completed: 2013

The Abell Foundation asked Doo Consulting to prepare a report on Net Zero Energy Schools in the United States in order to provide a perspective on the breadth of these efforts and to compare the design strategies being deployed. This study has enabled us to create a resource base including our report, a case study library and a data base of net zero schools that are built, being built or are on the drawing boards.

The research for this report consisted of Internet research and phone interviews with school representatives (principals, architects, engineers, and facility staff). Our preliminary Internet research led us to one particularly useful article by Paul Hutton, AIA, LEED AP, which was published in the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), Educational Facility Planner Vol. 45, Issue 3. In this article, Mr. Hutton explores the definition of “net zero” and makes important points about the impact of project location and design strategies. Unless noted otherwise, the buildings we describe are “net zero site energy” buildings.

For copies of our report or the Paul Hutton article, please contact us.