PNNL

Abstract

Sixty-five percent of schools in the West report using portable classrooms and use of portables is growing every year. In the Northwest, the US Department of Energy’s Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership is exploring ways of making portable classrooms more efficient and better for learning. The Northwest state energy offices and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, (PNNL) are using building science to examine energy consumption, lighting and ventilation to make these classrooms more comfortable and better value investments. This article describes evaluations of new and retrofit portables and recommendations for improved energy efficiency. Preliminary findings indicate that simple, low cost measures can do much to reduce energy costs and increase efficiency.