Net-Zero Building: Lake County Forest Preserve Designs Future Classroom Space

Press release from the Lake County Forest Preserve:

For several years, Lake County Forest Preserve staff have been working behind the scenes, to fulfill the needs of the education staff –to have adequate classroom spaces. After years of planning and working to secure funding, we had the opportunity to design and now can construct a new building that is net-zero.

Net-zero energy use is accomplished by designing a highly insulated building that doesn’t require much energy to run, and supplement it will an array of solar panels. The result will be a building that will produce as much energy as it uses each year.

The current classroom cabins were originally built for other purposes and though we have used them for many years, the cabins have limited our ability to fully utilize our teaching skills and do not meet current Americans with Disability Act standards. The new classroom will provide a fully accessible space for our professional educators to use. The project is being built in two phases. Our current funding allows us to complete Phase I which includes the two north classrooms, large bathrooms and a large covered porch. Phase II includes two more classrooms.

The complete project includes an asphalt path that will be accessible all year rounding general road improvements.

This press release was produced by the Lake County Forest Preserve. The views expressed here are the author’s own.