Forest Edge Elementary School

Planning to Reach Net Zero Energy

HGA has worked with Oregon School District for the past ten years, providing a variety of energy consulting, commissioning, retro-commissioning and engineering design services–continuing their long history of continued leadership in environmental stewardship.

Forest Edge Elementary School, the first Net Zero Energy (NZE) school in Wisconsin, is offsetting 100% of its on-site energy needs. Realizing not only cost savings, but also the ability to create a living lab and model of sustainability, the school utilizes state-of-the-art technologies including a microgrid with 125kW/250kWh battery storage, a 646 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, and a geothermal heating and cooling system. 100% of the building’s energy needs are provided from electricity.

The microgrid system works in tandem with the battery and the 1,704 solar panel system array, storing excess solar energy produced. This energy can then be strategically deployed back into the school to meet other energy demands or it can be fed back into the main power grid system, making Forest Edge’s impact reach beyond its own walls.

The challenge of designing a NZE elementary school—with no additional costs over the life of the school—needed an outside-the-box approach from the start. Low-interest green bonds, which help fund projects with positive environmental and / or climate benefits were utilized and NZE performance was stipulated in the green bond documentation.

These investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability have saved the district over $60,000/year since the school’s completion in July 2020, and positions the school district well as the regional utilities begin to transition to fossil fuel free energy sources in the future.

Bray Architects, the architect for the project, teamed with HGA and J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., to support the District throughout the planning, design, and construction process.