ENERGY STAR Building Design Profile
Red Hawk Elementary School
Erie, CO 80516
I

The new 71,000 SF Red Hawk Elementary is a vibrant place for kids to
learn. The sustainable design centers around a central space connected
to all parts of the school which allows for interaction amongst students
and teachers. Sustainable features include daylighting, displacement
ventilation, heat pumps and recycled materials.
One of the best benefits of using Target Finder is that in less than five
minutes you can see, through numeric values, how a building design will
perform in relation to a baseline building.
Talking Points:
•	Projects that achieve the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR
certification are designed to reduce energy and C02 emissions.
•	It was important that our project achieve Designed to Earn the
ENERGY STAR because it signals to the market that the project
is intended to perform in the top 25% of the nation's most energy
efficient buildings. RB+B Architects is also helping the
environment by delivering a low energy design to our client, which
in turn sets the stage for operating the building to actually earn
the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR buildings have a
proven track record and yield average annual energy savings of
30 percent.
•	Projects that achieve the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR
also promote future financial benefits from reduced energy costs
over the life of the building.
•	Target Finder was helpful in evaluating how various design
strategies affected the energy estimates for the project.
Suggested Details:
•	The projected annual energy and C02 savings of the design is 62
percent as compared to the median building.
•	The estimated total annual energy savings for this project is
7,402,953 kBtu with an estimated cost savings of $ 46,566
•	Sustainable features include:
o Siting of the building to maximize commuting from nearby
neighborhoods (children ride their bikes to school)
o Proper orientation of classrooms to maximize daylight
	o Displacement ventilation coupled with ground source

DESIGNED
TO EARN THE
ENERGY STAR
Architect of Record:
RB+B Architects
Engineering Firm:
•	Structural Engineer: JVA, Inc.
•	Mechanical Engineer: Shaffer-
Baucom Engineering
Consultants
•	Electrical Engineer: RJ McNutt
& Associates
•	Civil Engineer: V3 Consulting
•	Landscape Architect: The
Birdsall Group
•Acoustician: Geiler & Associates
•	LEED Consultant: Institute for
the Built Environment
•	Information Technology: DL
Adams & Associates
•	Kitchen: KitchenTech
Building Owner:
St. Vrain Valley School District
Design Energy Rating:
100
Percent Energy and C02
Reduction*:
62
Design Year/ Estimated
Occupancy Date:
August 1, 2011
Space Type:
K-12 School
Floor Space:
71,157 sq ft
Estimated Energy Use Intensity:
21 kBtu/sf/yr (Site)
Estimated Total Annual Energy
Use:
1,601,204 kBtu/yr
Estimated Annual Energy Cost:
$28,087

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heat pumps, as well as radiant floor heating
Reused materials (old gym flooring from a nearby high
school is used as wall paneling in the cafeteria)
Utilized recycled materials
Materials with no or low-VOCs
Environmental learning spaces integrated into the design
of the building and the site.
Minimal turf grass and native landscaping to reduce
water usage.
Low flow fixtures
Specification of sustainable materials
Super insulated building envelope
Thermally efficient window glazing
For More Information
Contact Jason Kersley at
j ke rs ley@rb ba rch ite cts. co m
'Percent Energy and C02 Reductions are
based on comparison to a median building of
similar type.
EPA wants to feature your projects on the Architects and Projects Web page and in ENERGY STAR
program materials. We encourage the AOR to submit a completed Profile with the certification
application or by e-mail to buildinqdesiqn@cadmusqroup.com

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