Ocean Lakes Elementary School
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Square Footage
69,000 SF
Building Type
K-12 Education
Project Type
Renovation
Team
Renovation
Services Provided
Mechanical and Electrical Design, Construction Administration, Commissioning
Overview
Ocean Lakes Elementary School underwent a comprehensive renovation that transformed the 69,900-square-foot facility into a net zero energy building. Originally constructed in 1989, the school achieved net zero energy consumption following phased HVAC upgrades, envelope improvements, LED lighting conversion, and the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic system. The project became the first net zero school in Virginia Beach City Public Schools and the first net zero public building renovation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Challenges
- Replacing aging HVAC equipment within an occupied K-12 facility while maintaining comfort and minimizing disruption.
- Reducing energy consumption in an existing building not originally designed for high-performance energy targets.
- Phasing construction to align with school schedules and multi-year budgeting constraints.
Goals
- Improve long-term energy efficiency through a life-cycle cost-effective geothermal water source heat pump (WSHP) system.
- Upgrade the building envelope with insulated glazing and enhanced roof insulation to reduce heat transfer and infiltration.
- Position the facility for on-site renewable energy integration following significant reductions in Energy Use Index (EUI).
Project Team
- Owner: Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- Architect: Tymoff + Moss Architects
- Structural: McPherson Design Group
- Lighting Consultant & Contractor: NORESCO
Results
- Reduced the building’s EUI from 60.9 in 2013 to near net zero levels following HVAC upgrades and solar installation.
- Lowered annual electric costs dramatically, with post-PV implementation energy bills reduced to nearly $0 under a Power Purchase Agreement.
- Demonstrated that a straightforward mechanical design combined with intentional envelope improvements could successfully achieve net zero energy performance in a K-12 renovation.
