Decades ago, Tammy Phelps sat in the old Richardsville Elementary School as a student. On Sunday, the Richardsville resident once again sat in the school, but this time it was a new, state-of-the-art building.

Phelps and hundreds of other residents, parents, school officials and elected leaders celebrated the new school Sunday during its ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony.

“I was in it before it actually opened, and I was astounded by the quality and the freshness,” said Phelps, whose daughter now attends the school. “I do live in the community, so I do pass it every day. I see the demo going on, so it is bittersweet.”

While they bid farewell to the old building, which is partially demolished, speakers mainly concentrated on aspects of the new building, which have drawn international attention. The 77,000-square-foot, $12.6 million building is the first net-zero school in the nation, creating more energy than it uses.

Bamboo floors, geothermal units, energy-efficient equipment and solar panels help the school conserve and emit energy. With the help of a state grant, Warren County Public Schools pumped $3 million into the school’s solar panels, which were flipped on during the ceremony Sunday.

“This is a day in history,” said Joanie Hendricks, district spokeswoman. “We all know this is the nation’s first net-zero school, and this is a big deal.”

Mike Wilson, chairman of the Warren County Board of Education, was a board member years ago when former superintendent Dale Brown presented an idea to cut energy consumption at schools. Since then, the district has saved about $5.5 million in energy costs and projects to save $8.6 million over a 10-year period.

While some argue net-zero buildings are too costly to construct, “we of Warren County believe you can’t afford not to build energy-efficient schools,” Wilson said. “The net savings far outweigh the initial cost of construction.”

In addition to saving energy and money, the building also serves as a teaching tool. Hallways house exposed geothermal pipes and solar panels, which students will study as part of their science curriculum. The water conservation hallway, where students will get a real-world view of water consumption, also was unveiled Sunday.

“I think it’s awesome because we’re saving energy … it’s cool that we’re the first ones in it,” said Riley Cochran, 11, a sixth-grader. It also has much better amenities, such as a larger cafeteria, she said.

“We get to eat a lot faster because there are two lines,” Riley said.

The project was put up for bid about 16 months ago, and for many school and community members, it’s been a lengthy process.

“It seems like this has been a long time coming to me,” Superintendent Tim Murley said.

The school originally was scheduled to open at the beginning of this academic year. But due to construction delays, students started school in the old building and moved to the new structure on Sept. 27.

“This place creates its own energy,” Murley said, “but I think schools create energy in the community.”

In this case, the new school will literally energize the community. The Tennessee Valley Authority will buy extra energy the school creates and pump it into surrounding homes and businesses.

In turn, the community also has energized the school. Several community members, such as Phelps, have attended the school and now send their children there.

“These memories must and will move forward with us,” Principal Kory Twyman said.