Sustainability

The North Wing utilizes a closed-loop geothermal heat pump system to condition the spaces. There are 15 vertical wells, each 540 feet deep. The heat pumps transport heat to or from the geothermal loop depending on the needs of the space.

How it works:
Ground temperatures are a constant 55˚F. During the winter, heat is removed from the ground through the geothermal look and transported to the North Wing. During the summer, the heat is removed from the North Wing and transported to the ground.

Positive impact:
Geothermal loop systems are energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective method of space conditioning. Operating cost is reduced because there is no outdoor unit to power. There are no emissions because there is no combustion, and this increases safety.

The heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment at Chiaravalle contribute significantly to the energy savings compared to conventional equipment. The equipment selected reduce electrical load using modern technology and control techniques such as energy recovery ventilation (ERV) units, demand control ventilation, and variable frequency drives.

As part of summer 2020 renovations, Chiaravalle replaced the HVAC system in the historic Burnham building with an eco-friendly, best-in-class model that replaces fresh air in the building twice an hour. Each classroom space will now be served separately by the system without mixing fresh air supplied and air returning. The construction, which had been scheduled for the summer of 2020 prior to the coronavirus pandemic, allowed the school to include additional state-of-the-art enhancements that use advanced oxidation technologies and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in conjunction with the high-efficiency HVAC system to reduce airborne disease transmission. We are fortunate that the timing allowed the school to go above and beyond to improve air quality and reduce the risk of airborne exposure.

In the rented Middle School suite, additional air purifiers and filters improve ventilation inside the classrooms.

There are two AAON ERV units that condition the air in the North Wing. ERV units exchange energy in the exhausted air and use it to pretreat the incoming outside air using a desiccant well. This improves the indoor air quality, and at the same time the equipment capacity can be reduced, which decreases the electrical energy needed to heat and cool the space. 

Demand control ventilation is a technique that allows the spaces to meet the fresh air requirements of the school when needed by occupant demand. Located in every group meeting space is a CO2 sensor that is used to determine the ventilation need. As the ventilation need increases, the amount of outside air is increased by speeding up the fan. As ventilation need decreases, the amount of outside air is decreased by decreasing the speed of the fan.

The ability to increase or decrease fan speeds is due to variable frequency drives. Variable frequency tires (VFDs) can reduce noise, reduce wear, and reduce electrical charges by only delivering the amount of power necessary. In fact, all of the pumps, supply fans, exhaust fans, and energy recovery wheels are equipped to run at variable speed to maximize comfort and efficiency.

The North Wing was built using high performance materials to maximize energy savings, comfort, and building integrity. Materials with high acoustic ratings were used to isolate noise between spaces and minimize HVAC noise.

The new structure features a green roof that efficiently manages storm water. The roof, combined with high performance building materials also contribute to a well insulated space, which lessens the energy needed for cooling or heating the space. A 6.3kW roof-mounted photovoltaic array contributes renewable energy to the energy-efficient building.

Montessori philosophy places tremendous emphasis on caring for and understanding the natural world. Educating students to understand the related science and moral responsibility of sustainability is woven into everything the Chiaravalle community does. Toddlers tend to the garden. Preschoolers sort recycling. Elementary children work to restore endangered prairie lands. Upper Elementary and Middle School students take outdoor education trips.

Ongoing sustainability education begins in the Toddler program and continues through Middle School. The curriculum includes botany, zoology, life science, nutrition, and health education at each developmental stage. Students learn practical life skills such as how to tend the garden and make meals from he produce they have grown. Classrooms have pets and plants so even the youngest children lean to care for other living things. Students learn to identify and practice healthy choices in food and behavior. There is an educational dashboard for students to track energy usage. Service learning includes prairie stewardship, trips to the woods, and gardening. By middle school, students organize their own camping trips multiple times per year.