USGBC and LIPA Announce Hampton Bays Middle School to Receive LEED Certification

 

The Long Island Power Authority and the Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that the Hampton Bays Middle School will be the first public school in New York State to earn the coveted USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.

The new 147,000-square-foot Hampton Bays Middle School opened its doors to its 5th and 6th grade students for the first time on February 25, 2008, and to its 7th and 8th graders on September 3, 2008.

The District is expected to obtain LEED certification for the new construction which employed energy efficiency measures including a white roof and increased insulation as well as the installation of high-efficiency air conditioning units and chiller. These measures will result in future energy savings and subsequent cost savings.

Roger P. Smith, principal architect on the project from BBS Architects & Engineers, stated they developed the design to always be part of the fabric of Hampton Bays - a remembrance of the community's past as represented in the replication of the Ponquogue Point Lighthouse that was part of the community. Its LEED certification is the culmination of many years of design concepts woven and integrated with the built environment.

The lighting system consists of hi-lumen low power T-8 lamps, with T-5 lamps in selected areas. The use of these energy efficient fixtures will result in reduction of lighting power density for the majority of the spaces in the building. Classrooms, offices, library and art related areas were equipped with occupancy sensors which turn lights “off” and “on” to indicate occupancy. The energy efficient measures taken at the school will see the building operate with a cost savings of approximately 30% compared to minimum NYS Energy Code requirements.

The cumulative result of these improvements will save the school approximately 536,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year, equating to more than $90,000 in savings and will have the equivalent effect of reducing 70 cars from the road for one year.
Through its participation in the Commercial Construction component of LIPA’s Efficiency Long Island initiative, Hampton Bays Middle School will receive a $300,000 rebate from the Authority to offset the costs. In addition, LIPA fully funded the energy modeling services, valued at $30,500.

Efficiency Long Island is a 10-year, $924 million energy efficiency program launched this year, which offers a wide array of incentives, rebates and initiatives to LIPA's residential and commercial customers to assist them in reducing their energy usage and thereby lowering their bills.

To learn about LIPA’s Commercial Construction Program and Efficiency Long Island, visit www.lipower.org/efficiency/commercial.html