Wilde Lake Middle School Opens as First Net-Zero School in Maryland

COLUMBIA, MD — Maryland's first net-zero energy school opens this week. Students at Wilde Lake Middle School on Monday returned from winter break to start the new year in their new building, which officials say will generate as much energy as it takes in over the course of a year. A ribbon cutting and community open house at the new middle school will be held Sunday.

The new Wilde Lake Middle School — built behind the old one — is double the size of the old structure, which will be demolished to make way for the bus loop and parking lot in the coming months. Despite its larger size, the new building will use half the energy as the older one, according to Howard County public school officials, who said that solar power, geothermal HVAC and responsive lighting systems have been built into it.

The previous building was constructed in 1969 and underwent one addition and one renovation. After exploring various alternatives, officials determined in 2013 that the best option was to replace the building to meet the anticipated enrollment increase in Columbia. The old school building could accommodate 500 students, while the new school has a capacity of 760, according to the Howard County Public School System.

Related: Board Approves Plan for New Wilde Lake Middle School

Construction began in June 2015 and was completed by the end of 2016 on the new building. The project, including demolition of the old building and installation of parking lots and fields, will be finished by August.

The Wilde Lake Middle School project was funded in part through the Maryland Energy Administration's Net Zero School Initiative grant, which totals more than $2 million. The cost of constructing the new building was $26 million, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Students said farewell to their old school with a concert and ceremony on Dec. 12, and were introduced to the new building before winter break to help them transition.

A ribbon cutting will be held at 1 p.m. with tours until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, at Wilde Lake Middle School, 10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. A live video from the event will be available at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8.

Image via Howard County Public School System.