Hawaii Green Building Law

Hawaii Preparatory Academy has opened the “Energy Lab.” The Energy Lab could be the first K-12 school facility in the world to meet the Living Building Challenge, a criteria that exceeds LEED Platinum certification, which the school also is pursuing.

Like LEED certification, the Living Building Challenge is also a voluntary third-party program of sustainable building certification. Its creators see it as the next step beyond LEED.

The Living Building Challenge addresses six performance areas: site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality, and beauty and inspiration, with a goal of achieving a “net zero” impact on the energy grid, water systems and natural environment. In order to qualify to be certified under the Living Building Challenge, a building must be a zero-net energy and water user, and introduce no new toxins from an established “red list” into the environment. Additionally, it could not be built on undeveloped land. In all there are 16 requirements for such a building and the list includes a category for “beauty and spirit” that includes “education and sharing.” The Living Building Challenge is performance based, which means a project has to perform as modeled for one full year prior to receiving certification.

Some of the sustainability features of the Energy Lab are wind turbines and roof-mounted photovoltaic panels will strive producing 100 percent on-site renewable energy. In addition, all wood is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified or from salvaged sources. Every occupied space has operable windows and the building is almost entirely naturally ventilated. A radiant cooling system uses colder nighttime air to chill water. Sensors will monitor the building’s energy use and generation and control artificial lighting and natural air flow.

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