Written by Megan Treacy

Warren County Kentucky is building the first net-zero energy school in the country.  Richardsville Elementary School will operate free of the grid by generating its own renewable energy, incorporating smart architectural features and a major emphasis on efficiency.

The list of features for this school is mind-boggling.  The school will have thin-film PV roof arrays, solar water heating, geothermal HVAC, insulated concrete form walls, a rainwater collection system and energy-efficient lighting.  The building is designed to take full advantage of natural light and wind for cooling. The plot of land includes a reclaimed brownfield, preserved woodland, a protected stream and bioswales.

Because this is a school and not just any building, all of these features will be used as educational tools.  The building will be divided into hallways that focus on specific parts of sustainable living.  The solar hallway will allow the students to see how much energy the solar panels are generating, the geothermal hallway will display temperature gauges for the geothermal system, the water conservation hallway will show how much rainwater has been collected and used in the bathrooms and the recycling hallway highlights the schools recycling efforts around the campus.

You can check out the school's website to stay up-to-date on the construction.  The school is set to be completed this summer and open to students in the fall.

Source: http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3102

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