WORCESTER NORTH HIGH SCHOOL GOES GREEN
School is one of
16 K-12 schools approved for a total of more than $3 million in state funds
for incorporating energy- and money-saving features into new buildings and
additions/renovations
BOSTON, MA (July 31, 2009) Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust today announced funding approval totaling more than $3 million for 16 high-performance green schools. Worcester North High School is being approved for $300,000 for a 30-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) array. Funding is being awarded to eight additional schools for solar PV arrays and to six additional schools for green school design assistance; one additional school is being awarded funding for green school design assistance and a solar PV array.
"This funding is a great catalyst to an important initiative that will be both economically and environmentally beneficial to our schools," said Representative John P. Fresolo (D-Worcester).
The eight additional schools that have been approved for solar PV installation funding are: Beverly High School; Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School; Cambridge Rindge & Latin School; Manchester-Essex Regional Middle/High School; New Bedford Lincoln Elementary School; Newton North High School; Quincy High School; and Dr. Albert F. Argenziano Elementary School of Somerville. The installation awards range from $150,000 to $300,000 per school, with combined funding from the Trust's Green Schools Initiative and Commonwealth Solar rebate program. Funding for each project will be contingent on the school's Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS) score. MA-CHPS rates schools based on implementation of a variety of energy-saving features and conservation measures.
The six additional schools that have been awarded funding through the Green Schools Initiative for green school design funding are: Billerica Parker Elementary School; Brookline Runkle Elementary/Middle School; Carver Elementary School; Dedham Avery Elementary School; Hampden-Wilbraham Minnechaug Regional High School; and Hanover High School. The design awards range from $40,000 to $75,000 per school.
The Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown has been awarded green school design funding as well as solar PV installation funding.
Through
the Green Schools Initiative, the Trust has made awards to public school
districts for green building design including green design team support and energy,
acoustic, and daylight modeling and for renewable energy system design and
installation. This highly successful initiative has led to the adoption of
state regulations that have required all new school or major renovation
projects approved for construction reimbursement from the Massachusetts School
Building Authority (MSBA) after
July 1, 2007 to implement numerous green design measures. The MSBA has provided an
additional funding incentive of up to two percent of construction costs for MA-CHPS
Verified high-performance green schools. High-performance green school buildings
save an average of 25% in energy costs over traditional schools and have
superior indoor environmental qualities.
Since 2002, the Trust has supported more than 80 schools in their efforts to incorporate renewable energy systems and other green elements into their facilities through the Green Schools Initiative, Commonwealth Solar, Commonwealth Wind, and previous initiatives. Going forward, the Trust will continue to support clean energy installations at schools throughout Massachusetts through Commonwealth Solar which has a new rebate adder for green schools and Commonwealth Wind.
Green School Solar PV Installation Grants Summary
For the schools awarded below: once a school has been verified as a high-performance green school, the school is eligible to receive a Trust installation award depending on the level of verification achieved. Schools that are Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS) Verified (30-33 points) are eligible to receive up to $150,000 total, and schools that are MA-CHPS Verified Plus (34+ pts) are eligible to receive up to $300,000 total (combined Green Schools and Commonwealth Solar). The following installation awards have been approved, but are contingent on the school's MA-CHPS verification score.
|
School |
Anticipated Award |
Approximate System Capacity |
|
Beverly High School |
$300,000 |
106 kW |
|
Bridgewater Raynham |
$150,000 |
15 kW |
|
Cambridge Rindge & Latin |
$300,000 |
30 kW |
|
Manchester Essex M/HS |
$300,000 |
40 kW |
|
New Bedford Lincoln ES |
$300,000 |
30 kW |
|
Newton North HS |
$300,000 |
60 kW |
|
Perkins School, Watertown |
$300,000 |
30 kW |
|
Quincy HS |
$300,000 |
30 kW |
|
Somerville Argenziano ES |
$150,000 |
15 kW |
|
Worcester North HS |
$300,000 |
30 kW |
|
TOTAL |
$2,700,000 |
~386 kW |
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Green School Design Grants Summary
NOTE: Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools is abbreviated to MA-CHPS throughout.
|
Perkins School for the Blind
Award: $40,000
� |
The Perkins School for the Blind, serving blind students from age 5 to age 14, is constructing a 54,340-square foot facility on the Lower School portion of the campus in Watertown. The building will contain classrooms, therapy suites, auditorium, gymnasium and offices.� The Perkins School has been awarded a Design grant totaling $40,000 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
|
Billerica Parker Elementary School
Award: $45,000
|
The Billerica Parker Elementary School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement based upon a plan to design and construct a new elementary school totaling 91,000 square feet. The Town of Billerica has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $45,000 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Design grant, will be used to assist the school design team (Symmes Maini & McKee Associates) to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
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|
Brookline Runkle Elementary School
Award: $40,375
|
The Brookline Runkle Elementary School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement for an addition/renovation project totaling 103,000 square feet. The Town of Brookline has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $40,375 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
|
Carver Elementary School
Award: $53,865
|
The Carver Elementary School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement for the 130,000 square foot project. The Town of Carver has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $53,865 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
|
Dedham Avery Elementary School
Award: $40,000
|
The Dedham Avery Elementary School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement based upon a plan to design and construct a new elementary school totaling 61,000 square feet. The Town of Dedham has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $40,000 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
They have procured a Green School Design Team Support consultant (The Green Engineer) and an engineering team for acoustics, energy modeling, and daylighting (66D and Alentech). These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
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|
Hampden-Wilbraham Minnechaug Regional High School
Award: $75,000
|
The Minnechaug Regional High School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement based upon a plan to design and construct a new elementary school for the 231,000-square foot project. Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $75,000 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team (Mount Vernon Group Architects) to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
|
Hanover High School
Award: $60,000
|
The Hanover High School has been approved by the MSBA for construction reimbursement based upon a plan to design and construct a new high school totaling 157,000 square feet. Hanover is currently working with HMFH Architects on the design. The Town of Hanover has been awarded a Design Grant totaling $60,000 to support the following activities related to a high-performance green school design:
These activities, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust design grant, will be used to assist the school design team to apply for MA-CHPS Verification and status as a Massachusetts High Performance Green School. |
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