CO-CHPS Criteria for New Construction and Major Modernizations

CO-CHPS creates a benchmark for the design and construction of Colorado high performance school buildings that are efficient, comfortable, environmentally responsible and healthy spaces.

For the past year, a Colorado-based advisory committee, representing a broad range of school design and construction stakeholders, developed CO-CHPS. The committee, in partnership with the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, created a CHPS Criteria to the unique codes and regulations, climates, opportunities, and local priorities of the state.

“Energy efficient schools mean more money stays in the classroom to benefit students, teachers and learning,” said Tom Plant, director of the Governor’s Energy Office in Colorado. “The CHPS Criteria represent another important component of Colorado’s New Energy Economy - helping us design schools today that dramatically reduce energy costs long into tomorrow.”

Read the entire press release here.

Flex Energy Tool

The FLEX energy tool was developed by the Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) consultant Dan Bihn to help building projects plan for future shifts in energy use and delivery. The tool is made up of two parts:

Flex Energy Handbook: covers different types of renewable energy and energy distribution technologies and describes how to use the tool
Flex Energy eWorkbook: provides the actual tool for working with drawings to design in flex energy for particular projects

The tool is a required part of the CO-CHPS rating system and useful for any project looking to reduce long-term energy costs and design with a view towards the future.

Related Materials and Programs

CHPS Verified Program

Colorado CHPS Criteria (CO-CHPS) On-Demand Training: New Solutions for Green Schools in Colorado plus Bonus Material

Colorado CHPS Advisory Board

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CO-CHPS Criteria
2009 Edition

School/District Official Architect/Engineer Consultants Contractor New Construction Major modernization Minor modernization/retrofits Programming and goal setting Selecting A/E team Site analysis Schematic Design Design Development Construction Documents Bidding Construction Administration Pre Occupancy Asssessment Tool Best Practices Colorado