“ “We had 200 people in our auditorium in the middle of July, and they had no idea it wasn’t air conditioned until we told them. That’s how comfortable the Big Ass Fans keep this space. We worked with engineers at Big Ass Fans to design it that way, and it really, really works.”
Locust Trace is a unique school in every way. Not only are the agriculture-based curriculum and on-site farm, riding arena and vet clinic very different from a standard public high school, but the building is also a net-zero facility—the first net-zero high school in the state. From the very beginning of the design process, the architects, engineers, staff and students wanted to make the school a model of sustainability and conservation— without sacrificing comfort.
Building designers incorporated Big Ass Fans® into the project from the beginning. With 21 energy-efficient fans located throughout the facility, designers were able to minimize ductwork and curb energy use. In summer months, airflow from the fans keeps classrooms feeling like a comfortable 75°F (24°C), even with thermostat setpoints at 80°F (27°C). In the winter, a solar thermal system heats the building while fans gently push warm air down from the ceiling, reducing the time the heating system has to work and saving even more energy.
