Report: Energy Approaches Could Save Schools Billions

Some $2 billion could be saved every year if K–12 schools implemented energy-efficient technologies and strategies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Knowing how tight district budgets are, and how much schools could use these savings for classroom programming, the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has published a white paper comparing state legislation that incentivizes energy efficiency.

The center wanted to better understand the benefits and drawbacks of various state-based EEP funding models and to document best practices. State-level Legislation to Support Energy Efficiency: Dedicated Funding for Existing K–12 Schools is the culmination of months of research analyzing legislation, collecting data and interviewing stakeholders across six states.

 Several states have created funding for energy efficiency projects (EEPs) in K–12 schools. Tennessee, for instance, has implemented EEPs in 93 percent of the state’s school districts, an investment totaling $90 million. California’s Proposition 39, Washington’s Energy Operational Savings Project grants, and Maine’s Schools Revolving Renovation Fund have invested more than $900 million in upgrading schools.

Key takeaways

 •    Successful programs establish clear criteria for project selection, but are also willing to make adjustments. Common considerations included the financial need of the district applying and the potential cost savings, as documented from an energy audit.
 •    Programs should take into account the overall financial health of school districts in a state and address the particular mechanisms that will work best. State legislation we studied used combinations of several funding models successfully: grants, loans, revolving loans and reimbursements.
 •    Designing programs that are easily navigated from application to implementation and that present little financial risk to a school district will result in larger uptake and greater impact.

The report offers a side-by-side comparison of of each state’s legislation and program features, including dollars invested, type of allocation, purpose and intent of each, and percentage of schools impacted. To read a short summary of the key considerations, view the executive summary

Finding the capital to finance energy efficiency upgrades at our nation’s schools can be a significant challenge. These investments, however, have the potential to reduce district utility bills year after year, improve the indoor environment of buildings and create refreshed and inspiring spaces in schools that are often outdated.

To read the white paper, visit State-level Legislation to Support Energy Efficiency: Dedicated Funding for Existing K–12 Schools.

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

    The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • California Middle School Completes Two New Academic Buildings

    Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently announced that construction is complete on two new classroom buildings of two stories each, according to a district news release. The new wing will house seventh- and eighth-grade students and is part of a larger campus modernization project.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition