New York CHPS Goes Verified

News from our New York Partner, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA):

April 30, 2010 (Albany, NY): Hampton Bays Middle School has been named by a third party team of experts as the first NY-CHPS Verified school building. Designed and built to provide both a superior learning environment and a durable, cost-effective structure, the school exceeds standard building codes in energy use, water use and indoor air quality, while saving operating costs. Located in Hampton Bays, Long Island, and a part of the Hampton Bays Union Free School District, the high performance features of the building combine to warrant its designation as the first New York school that has been confirmed as built to NY-CHPS Criteria.

Opened in April of 2008, in celebration of the school district’s Centennial celebration, the new 143,746 square foot, $42,000,000 Hampton Bays Middle School meets NY-CHPS prerequisites and qualifies for 67 credits – two credits more than required. Designed by BBS Architects of Patchogue, NY, with Beatty, Harvey, Coco Architects of Hauppauge, NY, Hampton Bays Middle School exemplifies advanced building performance and energy efficiency.

The building systems were designed and built to perform at an energy efficiency 27% greater than the New York Energy Conservation Construction Code by being well-insulated, using highly efficient lighting, heating, and ventilating equipment and an energy management control system to minimize operating costs—and is noted by the NY-CHPS Review Team for having ‘come close to the limit’ for energy savings without the use of renewable technologies.

Additional design features of the Hampton Bays Middle School include indoor environmental quality measures, protection from moisture infiltration and thus mold growth and integrated design practices.

Indoor Environmental Quality
Controlling construction pollution, specifying low emitting materials, utilizing walk-off grills and mats, and carefully locating air intakes and returns has minimized levels of particulate and volatile organic compounds within the school. The use of high efficiency filters further maintains indoor air quality.

Moisture and Mold Protection
Prevention of mold and moisture is critically important to both protecting and maintaining indoor air quality, and supporting the longevity of the school building. The architect’s careful attention to moisture barriers, prevention from mold formation, and precise sealing of joints were deemed ‘exemplary’ by the NY-CHPS Verified Team. The durable materials selected for all walls, roofs, floors and ceilings are noted for their ability to prevent water infiltration and ensure long life.

Integrated Design Practices
Working in conjunction with school district officials, engineering team partners, and operations and maintenance representatives, BBS Architects undertook an integrated design approach to producing an efficient, cohesive school building. For example, by designing classrooms to be equipped with six light fixtures, as opposed to the standard design of ten fixtures, the architect reduced the amount of heat given off by light sources. The engineering team responded by sizing the HVAC system accordingly, thus reducing the first-cost of the system to the school district.

High performance schools help to first ensure healthy, safe, and enhanced learning environments, and second to minimize the environmental impacts of building’s footprint and use. Designation as a NY-CHPS Verified school denotes and assures that Hampton Bays Middle School operates as a high performance school building.

For further information on NY-CHPS Verified, please contact NYSERDA toll-free at
1-866-NYSERDA, or locally at 518-862-1090, or email info@nyserda.org