High Performance Schools & Public Buildings

Welcome to the High Performance Schools Exchange

BULLETIN BOARD

NE-CHPS 2.0 for New Construction and Major Renovations is now available!

Want to know more about operating a CHPS building? Check back here soon for the CHPS Operating & Maintenance Guide

Find environmentally friendly products that help schools meet CHPS criteria by searching the CHPS High Performance Products Database

The High Performance Schools Exchange helps interested parties learn about all aspects of high performance schools, including technical information, state policy information and various building criteria, such as Northeast CHPS.

What is a high performance school?

High performance schools incorporate features that result in: cost effective facilities that save money over time by being efficient to build, operate and maintain; healthy and productive learning environments with superior indoor air quality and high levels of natural daylight; and practices that minimize environmental impact.

Building a high performance school?

Learn about the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools protocol (NE-CHPS) for new construction and major renovation projects. Also, discover additional resources for building and maintaining healthy high performance schools in your community on the Data, Resources, and More tab above.

What's going on in your state?

Find out about high performance school projects, policies and training opportunities in your Northeast state by visiting Our Activities tab above.

For the most up-to-date versions of currently available high performance building criteria and other related papers and reports, see the Resources tab above.

For more information contact Carolyn Sarno, 781 860 9177 x 119, or Susy Jones, 781-860-9177 x120.

NE-CHPS

Tips for Saving Energy in Schools

HPSE Green Technology and Practices

HPSE Glossary

High Performance Schools

NEEP is committed to working to maintain the NE-CHPS protocol as appropriate to Northeast states by providing technical support to state education, energy and environmental policymakers. The Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (Northeast CHPS) is a set of building and design standards for all schools from pre-K through community colleges. It is based on California's pioneering CHPS guide for the building of energy efficient, environmentally friendly, healthy school facilities.

NEEP administers NE-CHPS, a set of building and design standards for all schools from pre-K through community colleges.

NEEP also believes it is important to facilitate state efforts to adapt the NE-CHPS as a technical guideline for high efficiency in publicly funded construction and renovation beyond K-12 schools.

NE-CHPS

Tips for Saving Energy in Schools

HPSE Green Technology and Practices

HPSE Glossary

The High Performance Schools Exchange

The High Performance Schools Exchange (HPSE) is a project facilitated by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). The HPSE serves as a primary information resource for state groups and initiatives in the Northeast that are working to bring high performance schools principles to school construction and renovation. [More]

Through the formation and facilitation of working groups, the Exchange builds relationships with and disseminates information to a wide range of educational and architectural stakeholders. Through these strong regional partnerships, the Exchange is helping to transform the way schools are built in our region.

Since 2003 the HPSE has worked toward the long-term goal of having the majority of new and renovated school buildings in the Northeast designed and constructed to high performance schools principles.

In 2008, NEEP was honored with the Green Apple Award from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) for its leadership in high performance schools public policy.

Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools

The Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (Northeast CHPS) is a set of building and design standards for all schools from pre-K through community colleges. It is based on California's pioneering CHPS guide for the building of energy efficient, environmentally friendly, healthy school facilities. It has been tailored specifically for state code requirements, the New England climate, and the environmental priorities of the region. Check out the latest version of Northeast CHPS here!

High Performance Schools Workshop Materials

As part of the HPSE's regional activities, NEEP regulalry holds workshops on high performance schools for state education officials, the design and construction industries, and other interested parties. Below is a collection of materials from recent workshops.

For upcoming training and events on high performance schools topics, visit our calendar.

State information

Click on each state for summary information, including case studies, policy briefs, and contacts.
• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

	Resource	Description
	CHPS High Performance Products Database	The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) has a new tool available to product manufacturers to help customers identify building products that contribute to sustainable, healthy, built environments. The tool is an online, searchable database where manufacturers can list products that have met certain environmental or health standards ranging from recycled content to materials that contribute to improved indoor air quality. The database lists low-emitting materials, materials containing recycled content, rapidly renewable materials, organically grown materials, certified sustainable wood products, and products with low mercury content. The database will also list "multiple attribute" products, including Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP), Resilient Floor (NSF 140), low-emitting office furniture (BIFMA) and products that have undergone life cycle assessments.
	Daylighting Effectiveness Technical Report	This study shows the results of implementing daylighting technologies in school settings with reference to health, academic performance, or cost reductions gained by the school.
	Health and HIgh Performance Schools	Several studies have been done investigating the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and health. The growing consensus is that many health problems can be attributed to unhealthy schools. The Institute for Children's Environmental Health has published this study which links IEQ with learning and developmental disabilities.
	HMFH VEIC cost study	The study follows eight schools that entered into an MTC/MA DOE pilot program early in their design phase. (Green building advocates argue that establishing a green high-performance approach as early as possible yields maximum benefits and lowest overall costs.) These schools exemplify the costs and benefits of future projects that incorporate a green approach early in design.
	Massachusetts CHPS Guidelines	The Massachusetts High Performance Green Schools Planning Guide addresses the needs of school officials such as superintendents, administrators, business officers, facility planners, board members, interested parents, and others who are engaged in the process of planning new school facilities.
	NE-CHPS 2.0 for New Construction and Major Renovations	The Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (Northeast CHPS) is a set of building and design standards for all schools from pre-K through community colleges.
	New York CHPS Building Guidelines	The guideline is a derivation of state-of-the-art sustainable design and construction practices from around the country, specifically adapted for New York. It consists of requirements and credits in seven major categories to help guide the design and construction of energy efficient and sustainable educational facilities.