While many school districts continue to struggle with inefficient, outdated mechanical systems, that is not the case for Little Dipper Elementary School. In fact, through Passive House design principles and exceptional environmental stewardship, the Tecate, California-based district is enjoying the comfort of net-positive energy performance.
Located 1,500 feet from the Mexico border, designers faced numerous challenges on this project, including the hot Southern California climate. Opting for both passive and active systems, the team implemented iterative simulations and integrated sensors to accomplish its goals. Active systems can be switched on automatically, providing fail-safe performance, and manual systems can be activated by occupants via alerts.