Emerging Zero Net Energy School Retrofit Case Study: Los Osos Middle School
Case Study / January 24, 2018 / Getting to Zero
The mild climate in coastal cities such as Los Osos makes ZNE performance a realistic target with minimal needs for heating and cooling. It should however be noted that in such mild climates payback on upgrades to heating systems can be limited with minimal use, making the financial case of energy efficiency upgrades tougher. The district’s stated policy that layout of campus spaces should optimize energy conservation and provide a safe learning environment for students and staff helped promote the need for the ZNE target. With projects in the elementary schools and high schools already under way—the ZNE pilot at Los Osos Middle School completed the district-wide energy upgrades.