Cambridge, MA – HMFH recently announced today that its energy-efficient design for the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) has garnered the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts a $226,000 energy rebate from NStar (NYSE: NST). The rebate will offset the purchase of energy efficient equipment as part of the school’s recently completed $92 million multi-phase renovation project, and the City of Cambridge will re-invest the savings into other sustainable renovations around the City.
Designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification through a comprehensive and sustainable design strategy, the 400,000 sf Cambridge Rindge and Latin School is the largest municipal energy user in the City of Cambridge and serves 1,800 students as well as community and public events, as the City’s only public high school. The school is in use year-round, including evenings and weekends.
“The energy-saving design and new equipment will lower CRLS’s annual energy use by more than 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity and nearly 44,000 therms of natural gas,” said Richard Rossi, deputy city manager for the City of Cambridge. “In addition to the rebate from NStar, these upgrades are expected to lower the school’s utility bills by more than $335,000 per year.”
The project includes a photovoltaic rooftop panel array; high efficiency lighting; more effective use of daylight to reduce artificial lighting levels; innovative air handling systems to improve indoor air quality and further reduce energy use; and efficient boilers, pumps and motors to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the school and provide hot water.
“Widely known for its innovative approaches to teaching and learning, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School is again leading the way as a model for modernization and sustainability,” said Chin Lin, AIA, LEED AP, senior associate at HMFH Architects. “Working closely with CRLS staff, the City of Cambridge, and NStar, we were able to maximize opportunities for energy efficiency within the building structure, on the site, and in relation to the school’s operations.”