The First "Zero Energy" Public School

The picture above is of the Center for Energy Efficient Design (CEED) in Franklin County, Virginia. This remarkable building is the first zero-energy public school in the United States -- a school building that produces more energy than it uses. It does this by using "technologies that include passive design, earth berming, south facing orientation, thermal mass, geothermal energy, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, electricity-producing wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient appliances, and daylight harvesting."

If we were a smart country we would already be using much of this technology in the homes and businesses we are building. The passive design technologies alone could save 80-90% of a building's energy needs (and has already been embraced by the government of Germany). While it would slightly increase building costs, that cost could fairly quickly be recouped through much lower energy bills.

It is time for Americans to start getting serious about energy conservation. We waste far too much energy in the homes we build and the cars we drive. We also use far too high a percentage of the world's energy -- which is both immoral and unnecessary. We need to change this -- sooner rather than later.

If you'd like to read more about this remarkable school you can go to this website.

(A tip of my hat to blogger Adam Cohen of Zero Energy Construction for pointing out this story.)