Brixham Montessori Friends School (BMFS) in southern Maine achieved the “hat trick” of building renovations:
• Improved the health and well-being of students and staff by installing CERV2 smart ventilation
• Reduced utility cost by converting from propane furnaces to heat pump comfort conditioning
• Created a sustainable, climate friendly building with reduced environmental impact
BMFS mission: “Nurturing the Whole Child”, is demonstrated by the school administration, board and parent efforts to create a healthy, climate friendly, and fiscally responsible school environment for their children and staff. The school teamed up with Jeff St Pierre of Energy Efficient Homes, a high performance building contractor in southern Maine. Jeff understands the importance of creating healthy indoor environments and has installed several CERV2 smart ventilation systems in his projects.
BMFS’s renovation activities are detailed in our new report: “Brixham Montessori Friends School: A Healthy, Energy Efficient Learning Environment"
Despite unpredictable, always increasing utility prices (40% increase in propane and doubling of electric rates since 2019), the school’s decarbonizing efforts have reduced annual utility bills by $3000. Conversion from fossil fuel to high performance heat pump comfort conditioning reduces BMFS “site” EUI (Energy Use Intensity) by 40%, from 55 to 32kBtu/sqft. Shifting from propane furnaces to electric powered heat pumps has eliminated 13 to 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Student and staff estimated health improvements are even more impressive than BMFS energy and environmental accomplishments. The school’s five CERV2 smart ventilation units automatically maintain excellent IAQ for BMFS 96 students and staff, following Build Equinox’s healthy IAQ Standard. Our IAQ Standard already meets (and has for years) ASHRAE’s new draft ventilation standard based on human health (ASHRAE 241P). Student absenteeism and staff sick days are expected to drop by 40% (approximately 1 illness day per person per year) with an estimated financial reward of $45,000/year financial spread across its students, staff and their families.
Brixham Montessori Friends School is a wonderful example of multiple benefits that can be achieved by simultaneously creating healthy, energy efficient, and sustainable learning environments.
Our children’s future depends on us, and our future depends on them!
