In this real-life use case, Hopkins Academy, a public middle and senior high school in Hadley, MA, is considering upgrading its aging oil-burning heating system to a ground-source heat pump to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. UndauntedK12, a non-profit organization advising K-12 public schools in the energy transition, applied the Co-Benefits of the Built Environment (CoBE) tool to forecast the climate and health benefits of retrofitting the 62,000-square-foot building, built in 1954.
The school’s current oil heating system is a prime example of inefficiency. The system relies on fuel oil #2, commonly used for residential heating and known for its poor energy performance and high GHG emission rate. That said, transitioning the building from this legacy equipment to a modern HVAC system will require investment in new HVAC equipment and potentially in enhancing the building envelope. The CoBE tool is being used to support the School Committee in making evidence-based decisions.
Here is what the analysis using the CoBE tool found:
- By upgrading to a ground-source heat pump, Hopkins Academy would lower its energy consumption from 4851 MMBtu to 1500 MMBtu, saving 3351 MMBtu in energy and minimizing energy expenses.
- The retrofit would have a profound environmental impact, reducing GHG emissions from 338 metric tons to 71 metric tons per year, accounting for a significant reduction of 267 metric tons.
- Similarly, 687 lbs of air pollutants can be avoided annually (from 864 lbs to 179 lbs).
The CoBE tool also helps the Hadley School Committee understand the financial costs associated with climate and health impacts. In the tool’s context, climate impacts are measured by assigning a “social cost of carbon” to every ton of greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the building. Health costs reflect the additional healthcare costs associated with increased air pollution in the region.
- For Hopkins Academy, the switch to clean energy decreases annual climate costs from $18,140 to $4,082, resulting in $14,058 savings. This is calculated based on current GHG emissions.
- The associated health costs drop from $54,982 to $6,059 per year, leading to $48,923 in savings.
Utility incentives and clean energy tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are expected to mitigate project expenses substantially, easing the school’s and town’s financial strain. Moreover, the retrofit would position the school to comply with potential building performance standards, which could generate fines or require future costly investments. Want to know more about the Hopkins Academy’s retrofit plans? Read this article by the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
Explore the CoBE tool for your building projects.
(Image: Sara Ross)