This project funded by

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City of Portland logo primary

 

Da Vinci High Performance Classroom

Grade Level:
6-8
Location:
Portland, OR
PV System Size:
5.00 - kilowatts
Technology Type:
About the School:

The Da Vinci High Performance Music Classroom is a revolutionary, LEED® Platinum Certified building in Portland, Oregon that showcases the latest innovations in green construction. As a Renewable School, Da Vinci is building a dedicated community of renewable energy educators to help inspire the next generation of clean energy leaders.

More than one hundred fifty 32-Watt Solar Save tiles made by Open Energy are integrated into the roof and wired to an inverter on the building. When combined with a smaller, stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system already located at the site, these two solar systems generate 6.3-kilowatt-hours of energy—or enough to provide the 1,490 square-foot building’s electricity needs—making it the first Portland Public School building able to attain Net-Zero energy consumption status.

This building houses a music room, two practice rooms and a small recording studio. It boasts an innovative design that incorporates natural ventilation and day lighting, a high thermal mass due to thick walls and venting at night to regulate heating. It is built with non-toxic, environmentally-friendly building materials and processes. An artistic storm water management system connects to an adjacent rain garden. The building was designed as a showcase of technologies for future district renovation and new construction projects thanks to more than $100,000 in design, construction and consulting services were donated to the project by the community. The classroom was a 2007 recipient of the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development's Green Investment Fund.

In 2009, educators at Da Vinci received a customized renewable energy teacher training, hands-on science kit materials to augment the school's existing curricula, and complete access to the resources available on the Solar4RSchools.org website.