Gen7’s Prefab Eco Classrooms Exceed Energy Code by 30%

When schools grow too big for their existing facilities, they often have to resort to inefficient modular classrooms, which take a lot of energy to be run and make it seem like your kids are going to school in a trailer park. <a href="http://gen7schools.com/" target="_blank">Gen7 Modular Classrooms </a>by <a href="http://www.americanmodular.com/" target="_blank">American Modular Systems</a> is working to change that with their energy-efficient, affordable, and environmentally-friendly classrooms that provide <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/28/stunning-zero-plus-energy-lab-at-hawaii-preparatory-academy/" target="_blank">healthy and productive learning environments</a>. Over the summer, Gen7 installed a set of six modular classrooms at the Bolsa Knolls Middle School in Salinas, California - hit the jump to take a look!

Bolsa Knolls School needed extra classroom space and decided they wanted to create a healthy and productive environment for their students and teachers.

All six classrooms are designed to meet and exceed the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria for learning environments that are healthy, comfortable, energy-efficient, and easy to maintain. These will be the nation's first modular classrooms to receive CHPS verification for new buildings on an existing campus.

The classrooms are designed to be energy efficient through the use of super-tight insulation, a cool roof, natural light and an energy efficient mechanical system.

These classrooms are 30% more energy efficient than California Energy Code.

The classrooms also feature an ultra-quiet thermal displacement ventilation system that monitors carbon dioxide levels.

The classrooms began construction on June 1st of 2010 and were delivered to the school on July 15th.

The classrooms were installed by July 20th and ready for the students before school started on August 11th.

In less than 2 months the new classrooms were delivered and built, which is an important feature for schools that need new rooms quickly.

The classrooms have awnings that are set up for solar systems - Bolsa Knolls will install the systems when they have the funding for them.

This is a demonstration classroom by Gen7 to show off their eco-friendly classrooms.

New teachers in the Gen7 classrooms are provided with a “green toolkit” which outlines the features and benefits of their new green learning environment and includes reading and comprehension activities, green curriculum resources and an exciting educational DVD.

The classroom exteriors can be designed and finished to match the existing school's facade and look.

When the modules arrive on the campus, they are already 90% complete and it only takes a few more days to make them ready for teachers and students.