“This structure blocks the hot Texas summer sun from passing through classroom and other windows while still allowing natural lighting,” notes Fabral. “In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, the rays pass directly through the windows, providing warmth and heat to the building. The width of the canopy was determined by analyzing the sun angles during the times and months when students are in their classrooms.”
Since the school serves as a learning laboratory, the regular K-12 cirriculum has been supplemented with lessons that focus on the school’s energy-efficiency. As noted on the school’s interactive website, “Elementary students may study the differences in solar energy production on a cloudy day versus a sunny day, while high school students may calculate the school’s average geothermal output.” Additionally, there is a viewing platform on the roof so students can examine the photovoltaic array, and energy monitors are placed throughout the hallways so students can see exactly how much energy the school is using at any given time.
In constructing the building, the school district’s main concern was energy use, but they are also seeking LEED certification. Lady Bird Johnson Middle School is not only a beautiful structure, but also a perfect example how green design can be incorporated into our everyday lives as an educational tool. Here’s hoping that more schools around the country follow suit.
+ Lady Bird Johnson Middle School
This is a perfect way to encourage and motivate students to consider and more importantly, CHOOSE alternative forms of energy. By immersing them in efficient technology, we can show them how application of such techniques and materials is beneficial in a wide scale. Hopefully more schools take note of Ladybird Johnson’s example and follow suit. Good job guys.
Juan Miguel Ruiz (Going Green)
http://www.GreenJoyment.com
This school is a shining example of what can be accomplished with today’s technology and good design. I hope school districts all over the world take noe.
Its all right, but net zero doesn’t anything to fix the fact that its an auto dependent location. I would rather have a non-net zero school in a location where the kids can walk to school then a net zero school any day. It uses less energy not to mention all the other benefits.
This is great, but the important part of this achievement should be the design effort that went into reducing energy consumption. Any school in a rich district can install enough solar panels to make it net zero – please tell us more about design that went into energy efficiency in these articles.