The ABCs of Transforming a School Market

Amy Cortese and Kyle Kobel, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Keywords

Abstract

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (“Alliance”) is undertaking a market transformation program to institutionalize energy efficiency in school design and construction. As a target market, schools are a high priority because of the desire to provide a healthy, sustainable learning environment while maximizing budgets. Energy efficiency is a critical element of a high performance school.

In Washington, the Alliance has targeted key school decision-makers including district officials, architects, engineers, utilities, the state funding agency, and sustainability non-profits. With Alliance facilitation support, a committee established voluntary criteria for sustainable schools. The Alliance will work with design teams selected by Washington in their $1.5 million pilot project to demonstrate how energy efficient, high performance schools improve the learning environment while saving money.

In Idaho, market research and stakeholder meetings disclosed that an appropriate strategy includes technical reviews of school designs and professional education focused on high performance schools. A general public relations campaign is necessary to transform the market as well.

This paper will discuss the process the Alliance has developed to transform the schools market and the results achieved thus far. Solutions to market barriers discussed later include consideration of energy efficiency at the earliest phases of design, integrated design, and “selling” high performance. Expected results include adoption of the criteria by Washington, review of existing high performance schools, and pilot project identification.

The program leverages the work of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, the Advanced Building Guidelines, and Alliance services including daylighting/lighting laboratories, training, centralized marketing and advisor services.