AN ENERGY EFFICIENT SCHOOL Completed in 2010, Alamosa Elementary School is a design-build project located in one of the most economically challenged areas of southern Colorado. Two connected school buildings (grades K-2 and 3–5), with a combined area of 145,000 square feet, had the shells of both buildings constructed with 51,400 square feet of ICFs, including 75 percent of the exterior walls, in just 90 days. 01. Reduce Costs. Under-slab hydronic heating and ICFs systems reduce energy loads by 72 percent compared with metal framing, thereby allocating money to classroom needs instead of utility bills. 02. Energy Effi ciency. Energy modeling found that the building could be designed without air conditioning—and still be comfortable. Solar thermal and solar panels provide hot wat

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