HVAC Technology Report: Greening schools

View the full story, including all images and figures, in our monthly digital edition Read the other articles in the HVAC Technology Report series: " Systems design and performance tips for packaged rooftop units (RTUs )" March 2009" BAS design issues " June 2009 When planning a green building, designers and engineers face a chicken-and-egg question: What comes first, the building envelope or the mechanical systems? In the case of green schools, the building envelope comes first. If the building's envelope and siting are considered before any mechanical systems are put in place, engineering the building is easier and less costly. The experts interviewed for this article agree that the building envelope—not the mechanical systems—must be the starting point when designing green schools. For example, to achieve greater control of a school's indoor environment, Donald Clem, LEED AP, senior architect with Steven Winter Assocs.