The guide, one of CHPS's six best practices manuals for schools, enables school designers and builders to adjust their high-performance strategies to account for the differences found in a typical relocatable classroom. The collaborative's philosophy is that through careful planning and use of the right features, construction techniques and site placement, relocatable classrooms can offer learning environments equivalent to high-performance permanent classrooms.

Because relocatable classrooms--also known as portables, modulars or trailers--are often acquired with the intent of being temporary or short-term solutions to space needs, planners may not be as diligent about incorporating energy-saving features and sustainable-design concepts. But, too often, because of financial constraints or an inability to keep pace with rapid enrollment growth, "temporary" classrooms can remain in place for a long time.

"[T]raditional relocatables often fall short in delivering quality learning environments and often use more energy than conventional classrooms," the manual states.

In addition, because of their portability, relocatable classrooms may have features that make sense in one geographical area, but they end up in a location with different conditions. "A particular relocatable can find its way to any of the nation's climate zones, can be oriented in just about any direction and can be installed in a wide variety of site conditions," the manual notes.

The high-performance characteristics that CHPS recommends for relocatable classrooms include enhanced daylighting, energy-efficient lighting, energy-efficient, low-noise HVAC systems, an efficient building envelope and interior material with low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

• Daylighting: Typical relocatable classrooms are longer and narrower than permanent classrooms. "As a result, the windows provide little useful daylighting in the center of the classroom," the manual says. CHPS recommends skylights in the center of the room to supplement lighting from windows.
• Electric lighting: The recommended lighting system for a CHPS relocatable classroom has six indirect/direct luminaires mounted close to the ceiling, the manual says. A separately switched luminaire should be provided for the teaching wall. Lighting controls should enable the instructor to switch between settings for general instruction and audio-visual presentations.
• HVAC system: The manual calls for relocatable classrooms to have high-efficiency, wall-mounted units that operate quietly. "Quiet operation is essential," the guide says. "In many older relocatables, teachers typically turn off the ventilation system due to excessive noise." That result is a learning space with inadequate ventilation. Quieter HVAC systems are available that operate without disrupting a classroom with excessive noise.
• Windows: CHPS calls for double low-e glazing in windows. This lowers the heat transfer through the window and provides a high level of visible light. Windows near external noise sources should have a sound transmission coefficient of 35 or higher.
• Finish materials: Carpet assemblies, wall board, paint, caulks and sealants should be composed of low-emitting materials. "All products, including cleaning products, entering an existing relocatable classroom, should be selected with indoor air quality in mind," the manual says. CHPS also cautions planners to guard against choosing products with renewable or recyclable content that may have chemical emissions that affect indoor air quality. To help schools identify products that "contribute to sustainable, healthy, built environments," CHPS recently has established an online high-performance database of product manufacturers. The database is at www.chpsregistry.com/live.

A PDF version of the 2009 edition of CHPS's Criteria for Relocatable Classrooms can be viewed online at www.chps.net/content/041/CHPS_Vol_VI_FINAL.pdf.

--by Mike Kennedy

• 17.25: In millions of gallons, the amount of water the University of Pennsylvania will save by installing 2,500 more efficient shower stalls in campus residence halls.

Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian

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