Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is one of 13 K-12 school districts nationwide to be celebrated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for their accomplishments in improving air quality at Aldie Elementary and also improving the school’s energy efficiency and eliminating on-site dependence on fossil fuels. LCPS received this national accolade for Retrofit Revolutionary as part of the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program.
Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, LCPS undertook a project at Aldie Elementary to improve ventilation. This project led to additional modernization of the school’s building envelope (the building’s exterior structures) and energy systems. The retrofit project included the installation of a geothermal water source heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that replaced the school’s aging fuel oil boiler/radiator system and window AC units. The project exceeded guaranteed cost savings in Year 1 of performance and improved the health and comfort of the learning environment – all the while preserving and enhancing the historic school’s most beloved characteristics. LCPS contractor CMTA supported this project which was completed in February 2022.
“We are proud of the work we have done at Aldie Elementary and across LCPS to improve the efficiency of our systems,” said Kevin Lewis, LCPS Chief Operating Officer. “Not only have these improvements conserved energy and lowered our operating costs, but the updates also improve the health and comfort of students and educators. This recognition is an opportunity for our school district to lead by example at a national level.”
The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program is a joint effort between DOE, EPA and ED that provides recognition and technical assistance to school districts across the nation seeking to implement high-impact indoor air quality and efficiency improvements that will reduce energy bills and improve student and teacher health.
LCPS has been working on this program to achieve solutions with immediate impact and long-term benefits, including HVAC and other technologies to reduce energy use and emissions. These best practices are helping other schools engage in similar efforts nationwide. Projects in the Retrofit Revolutionary category ensured that both energy efficiency and occupant health were considered during their facility retrofit projects.
This unique distinction recognizes LCPS as a K-12 energy efficiency, health, comfort, and resilience leader. This recognition gives them the opportunity to build on their own success and allow the community to continue the project's momentum to improve school infrastructure.
About the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program: The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program aims to motivate and empower K-12 schools to reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency, health, and resilience. The program connects schools with practical solutions and provides technical assistance and resources to improve school facilities significantly. It is led by the DOE Building Technologies Office with technical support from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and New Buildings Institute.
Published May 16, 2024