Innovative Design - Guidelines

Innovative Design has worked with TRC Energy Services and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop sustainable design guidelines for New York schools across the state. The focus of the study is to improve energy, daylighting, and water use performance in existing facilities. To achieve this goal, we worked closely with the client to assess existing facility needs and prioritize the most cost- and energy-effective strategies for small and large renovation projects.

Among future efforts towards promoting sustainable design in New York Schools, Innovative Design will be delivering general sustainability workshops as well as workshops on specific green strategies, such as daylighting, solar hot water system, and rainwater harvesting strategies, to school architects, engineers and school personnel.

Innovative Design will also be reviewing school building design plans and consulting with architects and engineers to ensure proper execution of sustainable solutions in new and existing schools.

Daylighting Guidelines

Innovative Design created a design tool for sizing daylighting apertures appropriate for New York’s climate zones. By analyzing the daylighting of six typical K-12 school spaces with different strategies, Innovative Design developed ‘rules-of thumb’ for the Albany, NY and Syracuse, NY areas. The guideline offers analysis and guidance focused on window retrofitting and the related energy efficiency implications, daylighting levels, and cost savings and payback estimates.

Solar Hot Water & Rainwater Systems

Innovative Design developed design tools to optimize rainwater collection systems and solar water heating systems for different locations in the State of New York.

Green Specifications

Innovative Design developed a set of green specifications to achieve sustainable strategies in designing schools. The specifications are organized according to CSI Master Format to provide sustainable strategies division by division. These documents also included detailed recommendations on the technical aspects, such as daylighting, solar hot water system schematics, rainwater harvesting schematics, plug load, and energy efficient kitchen equipment.