Aggressive Operational Energy Reduction

Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Ballroom F

Net zero energy is no longer aspirational—it is an urgent responsibility. As policy, codes, and climate realities accelerate, schools must lead the transition to dramatically reduced operational energy and ultimately net positive performance. This session challenges participants to move beyond incremental efficiency and commit to aggressive, measurable energy reduction strategies that deliver long-term value. Through comparative case studies—including a net-positive library evaluated a decade later and peer projects using today’s technologies—attendees will see what works, what fails, and why. Participants will explore how building form, high-performance envelopes, and advanced systems can align to achieve net zero without compromising cost, function, or design quality. Equally important, the session addresses the common gaps between ambition and execution—and how to close them. Attendees will leave equipped to lead, advocate, and deliver net zero schools that are resilient, cost-effective, and future-ready. The built environment generates 40% of the earth’s annual global CO2 emissions and the imperative and code to aggressively address operational energy reduction is reflected in policy trends, code evolution and California’s ZNE Building Goals. These project case studies share strategies and lessons learned that will assist attendees in empowering successful ZNE building projects.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this session, attendees will learn:

• How building capitalizing on free passive resources, form and high performance envelopes can position a project to achieve net zero energy without compromising other parameters.
• How advanced systems technologies put net zero further within grasp.
• How LEED (at high levels of certification) can be symbiotic with aggressive energy reduction.
• Why sometimes these aspirations fail and how to avoid those disruptors.

Speakers:
Mary Ruppenthal, Education Market Sector Leader, Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED)
Martha Ball, Higher Education Sector Leader, Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED)