CHPS Releases 2009 Edition of the Texas CHPS Criteria for Second Public Review

The 2009 Edition TX-CHPS Criteria public review period is now closed. Thank you for your interest!

2009 Edition TX-CHPS Criteria Draft

Click on the image below to download the draft for review.

TX-CHPS PowerPoint Presentation

Click on this image to download a powerpoint presentation that introduces the CHPS organization and TX-CHPS.

Environmental Defense Fund endorses TX-CHPS! Read more...

TX-CHPS, CA-CHPS and LEED for Schools

Get answers to the common question, What are the difference between TX-CHPS, CA-CHPS and LEED for Schools?

Click here to review the changes to the TX-CHPS Criteria and make comments on the changes.The second public review period opens Monday, December 15, 2008. The last day to submit second public review comments is January 5, 2009, C.O.B. PST.

TX-CHPS will help to ensure that the state’s schools have access to appropriate tools and resources to build high performance schools, schools that can improve student and staff health, improve student performance, increase a sense of community, reduce environmental impact, and reduce operating expenses. Texas joins a collaborative of ten other states that have high performance schools programs including California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts and many northeastern states.

"Given the large amount of new school construction happening in Texas, it was imperative that a state-specific assessment tool be made available to school districts who want to invest wisely in green, healthy, high performance schools," said Charles Eley, executive director of CHPS. "The Texas CHPS Criteria, developed by the stakeholders who know the Texas school system best, will provide the state with a benchmarking tool for its new generation of high performance schools."

For the past several months, a Texas-based advisory committee, representing a broad range of school construction and operation stakeholders, developed TX-CHPS to meet the needs of Texas K-12 schools. The committee utilized the work of other states and adapted CHPS to the unique codes and regulations, climates, constraints, and local priorities of the state. The committee is also charged to ensure that the "spirit and stringency" of CHPS is upheld in the final adopted version.

One of the unique challenges the committee faced was adapting the Criteria to the varying climate zones in Texas, particularly the hot and humid climate in the southeastern part of the state. An additional challenge was the availability of construction and demolition debris recycling opportunities in the state. This was the only area that the TX-CHPS Criteria was unable to meet the stringency of the CHPS brand. Instead of having a minimum construction waste recycling prerequisite, like other CHPS states, projects in Texas can receive points for reducing construction waste. The committee also reviewed and adjusted the point weightings across the TX-CHPS Criteria to ensure it met the priorities of Texas schools. Credits that increased energy performance and independence as well as improved student health were weighted heavier, including the energy performance, on-site energy producton, daylighting and low-emitting materials credits.

Schools that pursue TX-CHPS will be supported by the CHPS organization and the Texas-based advisory committee throughout the design, construction and operation process. CHPS is a 501c(3) non-profit headquartered in San Francisco.

Click here for the complete 2009 Edition TX-CHPS Press Release.