Looking to bring together public school administrators, designers and policymakers, the ASHRAE-sponsored event will explore how to meet code requirements and operational budgets.

Maximizing the performance of school buildings - and the students in them - is the goal of ASHRAE’s March 1-2 meeting in Atlanta.

Looking to bring together public school administrators, designers and policymakers, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers-sponsored event is to explore how to meet code requirements and operational budgets. Reducing building energy expenses will be a major focus, meeting officials said.

“Sixteen percent of schools districts’ controllable costs are spent on energy,” said Ben Leppard, a member of the conference steering committee. “By focusing on energy efficiency and high-performance goals a school’s energy bills can be lowered, saving millions of dollars each year which can be redirected into facilities, teachers’ salaries, computers and textbooks.”

Experts on acoustics, indoor air quality, ventilation will meet with attendees to explore possible solutions to school officials’ building problems.

“Improved indoor air quality, acoustically designed indoor environments and high-performance lighting systems have the potential to increase student productivity,” Leppard said.

Conference registration and other details are online .