Middle school addition in Liverpool, N.Y., will generate as much energy as it uses

From Reuters: a new 4,100-square-foot media center addition at Liverpool Middle School in Liverpool, N.Y., will generate as much energy each year as it uses. The designers say they achieved the net zero-energy goal by developing a combined passive solar heating and daylighting system that they have dubbed the split Trombe wall. It captures and stores the sun's heat and releases it over time within the media center, which is expected to reduce heating cost by 50 percent and lighting cost by 75 percent. The architect is Ashley McGraw Architects.