We can’t afford not to build Net Zero Energy Schools with Dallas ISD bonds.

This excellent, easy-to-read four-page document from UndauntedK12 makes all the major compelling points for “The Financial Case for Net-Zero Energy Schools”.

Getting to Zero Forum: Zero Energy Schools Resource – “Learn how zero energy schools are leading the zero energy buildings trend through policy and design.” A good resource with lots of links to information from numerous sources.

4 reasons net-zero energy should start with schools.

Energy Efficient Buildings Information Sources

Whatever your interest, there are information sources from a wide range of organizations to inform, guide, and give you examples of energy efficient buildings that are beautiful and functional but significantly lower cost-of-ownership than conventional buildings

Cost-of-Ownership is the total of 

  1. Construction or acquisition cost of any capital item (school buildings in this case)

  2. The cost of operating the building for the expected life of the building.

  a. Maintenance of the building and grounds.

  b. All utilities and services:  electricity, heating fuel, water, sewage, waste disposal.

  c. Insurance and physical protection.

  d. Taxes

  e. Depreciation of the building and grounds.

  f. Cost of disposing of the property 

  g. Less the sale price of the property

  For schools, maintenance and utilities are the biggest costs.

An energy inefficient school building costs less to build than a net zero energy building, but if the school district plans to use the building for more than twelve years, the increased utility bills will  make the cost of ownership much higher than the  net zero energy school. Financially, it is VERY difficult to justify not choosing to build net zero energy schools—unless you plan to sell the school and go out of business soon!

To understand why natural gas is a poor choice for building HVAC heat.

These papers explain the human health effects, financial costs, and severe global warming impacts of continuing to use natural gas. 

Opportunities for reducing Embodied Carbon (the amount of atmospheric carbon produced to make the building materials, furnishings, and other contents of the building).

The high cost of not building Net Zero Energy Buildings

“The cost of ownership for Lady Bird Johnson Middle School is about $4,000,000 lower than a traditional school building.   Irving ISD is spending that saved money on educating children rather than enriching the fossil fuel powered utility company share holders. 

The Irving ISD Board of Trustees has concluded they cannot afford not to build all future schools to be Net Zero Energy Buildings.”     Jim Scrivner, Executive Director of Maintenance and School Services, Irving ISD, December 2019.

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The Town that Built Back Green after tornado (Dallas ISD should too).

Kiowa County High School in Greensburg, Kan., was rebuilt with recycled wood. It has geothermal heating and a design that maximizes natural daylight, among other features that cut its energy consumption.

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The Energy Efficiency Features of Lady Bird Johnson Middle School

 Zoom Presentation, Summer 2021 by Jim Scrivner

Executive Director of Irving ISD Facilities and School Support Services.

Please see the following video index below!