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Jan 11 Event – Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Net Zero in Older Public School Facilities

Posted by StarChapter on Jan. 11, 2023 / Subscribe 0

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In last month's event, we took a close look at a new home design able to generate 16% more energy than it consumed, using a heat pump, a very tight building envelope, and near perfect orientation to the sun allowing for excellent solar exposure. But what do we do when confronted with an old building, built of cement block in the 1960's? In this month's program, we will be reviewing a K-12 school in Mount Prospect Illinois that did just that.

On January 11 @ 9 AM EST I will be joined by Troy Kerr of FGM Architects and Jeff Oke of IMEG take us on a detailed explanation of how they converted an old leaky cinder block, fossil fuel burning, energy hog building constructed in 1966 into a building that is now savings the local tax payers $23,000 per year in operating costs while reducing the impact to climate change. Here is a press release they made on the Prairie Trails School for more information.

I hope you will join us on January 11th @ 9 AM EST for an interesting and informative perspective on how we, as a design community, can help decarbonize our old buildings, reduce their energy consumption, and drive them as close to net zero as we possibly can.

Speaker Biographies

Troy Kerr is a Principal with FGM Architects, working with their PK-12 practice in the Chicago region. A graduate of the University of Maryland and Washington University in St. Louis, he has spent his career working with educational institutions to create innovative and responsive learning environments. Prairie Trails School is his first net zero energy project.

Jeff Oke has worked his entire career at IMEG and is the Client Executive overseeing IMEG’s Education and Science and Technology focused team. He serves as project executive and project manager for many large and complex projects. Jeff has developed a broad background of engineering experience, including master planning, heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), chilled and hot water distribution, system controls, piping, plumbing, and fire protection systems. He also has experience for a variety of projects ranging from universities, laboratories, student housing facilities, and primary education facilities, to libraries, public safety facilities, municipal projects, and office buildings. As a LEED Accredited Professional, Jeff has a fundamental understanding of building energy use which helps bring the commonsense solutions to sustainable designs. Several of the projects Jeff has led have been recognized with industry awards. Jeff has also presented at several local and national conferences on sustainable design practices.