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Window Pain

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At just another regular day of meetings at school district office, I (Ellen) just had to laugh.  Even with well-informed architects in the building, there was one room with the heater on and another room with the door open and the air conditioner pumping away.  Yap, we have a problem. 

It brought flashbacks to a day I met with the facilities staff at a school district. They told me, in no uncertain terms, there will be no operable windows in the District. What no operable windows?!? We are in California.  Fall, spring and lately half of winter, big savings could come from using what Mother Nature is providing by opening a window. 

They added, not so jokingly, if only we could control the doors too.

At the time I was beside myself.  Today, however, on some level, I understand. This is not the first meeting I have been in where doors and windows are open with the air conditioner on and it is hotter outside than in.  Still, I don’t think total crackdown is the best answer.  Apparently Education does not help much, considering that the architects in the room contribute to the issue.  

An answer may be two fold.  

First, don’t take away the ability to use passive ventilation. Instead advance it with windows and ceiling fans and other means of air circulation.  Educate the students and the teachers on how it works. If the students understand they will make good choices. In turn, we prepare the next generation to be energy aware.   

Second, give everyone the tools to understand the implications of “all systems on” and include them in the curriculum as a “real life” lesson. Tools may include:
  • Inside and outside thermometers
  • Technology that shuts off conditioning or heating when windows and doors are open
  • Real time energy usage meters that can be seen by users, graphed over time and detailed to show costs of energy
  • Create room and building envelope diagrams to show heat transfer and the effects of an open door or window


So what is the policy in your District about opening windows? Do you have any innovated ways of providing natural venation? 
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