schools the opportunity to increase resilience and, in some cases, generate additional revenue streams or energy savings. What’s more, schools in several states, including California, Massachusetts, and Virginia, are using gov- ernment subsidies to transition to electric school buses. Electric school buses can offer substantial health and climate benefits, as well as cost savings.
Questions to Ask
To ascertain how the district can ensure healthy, resilient facilities and reduce energy costs and emissions, the dis- trict should ask the following questions: 1. Does the district have building-level data on current energy use and current emissions that are collected regularly and shared broadly with various stakehold- ers, including school board and community members?
2. Is an explicit goal of the school district to provide a healthy environment for students, educators, staff, and community members included in facility master plans and all appropriate vendor specifications?
3. Has the district set goals related to energy efficiency and emissions that are incorporated in facility master plans and project specifications?
4. Does district leadership have an inventory of condi- tions within school buildings, on school grounds, and associated with school transportation that contribute to unhealthy environmental conditions and a plan to address those conditions?
5. Are health impacts among the considerations when allocating resources, prioritizing school facility upgrades, defining project specifications, and evaluat- ing products or vendor solutions?
6. Has the district implemented no-cost tactics and low-cost or no-upfront-cost measures that can gener- ate recurring energy savings? Has the district imple- mented a plan to engage students, educators, staff, and others who use the district facilities in energy conservation efforts?
7. Has the district assessed opportunities to improve the resilience of school facilities to enhance continuity of operations and reduce future costs?
8. Has the district performed a site assessment of solar feasibility?
Inspiration from the Field
In the Berkeley (West Virginia) County School District, Superintendent Manny Arvon was facing rapid growth, a sizable electric bill, and several HVAC system compo- nents reaching the end of their life span. Amid significant operating and maintenance expenses, the district reno- vated 35 buildings composed of over 2.5 million square feet of building space spread across seven schools. The
asbointl.org
schools received new geothermal HVAC systems and LED lighting fixtures.
The first four years after the project was completed, the energy savings amounted to $2.7 million above guar- anteed savings levels. The school district retains 100% of those savings. Overall, the projects reduced district energy usage by 43%. The learning environments ben- efited from documented improvements in background sound levels, indoor air quality, and light levels.
References
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 2011. Energy Effi- ciency Programs in K–12 Schools: A Guide To Developing and Implement ing Greenhouse Gas Emission Programs. Washington, DC: EPA.
Generation180, Solar Foundation, and SEI. 2020. Brighter Future Report 2020. Charlottesville, VA: Generation180.
Jordan, P. 2021. What Congressional Covid Funding Means for K–12 Schools. FutureEd. April 30.
www.future-ed.org/ what-congressional-covid-funding-means-for-k-12-schools.
NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences). 2018. National Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report. Washington, DC: NIBS.
Torcellini, P. A., N. Allen, and M. McIntyre. 2020. Plowing Through the Cost Barrier: Zero Energy K–12 Schools for Less. Preprint. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy20osti/77414.pdf.
Anisa Heming is the director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C. Email:
aheming@usgbc.org
Sara Ross is the cofounder of UndauntedK12 and is based in Amherst, Massachusetts. Email:
sara@undauntedpartners.com
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Federal COVID Relief and ARP Funds for Healthy Facili- ties. National Council on School Facilities. https://static1.
squarespace.com/static/5a5ccab5bff20008734885eb/t/6065 d09935c28d6b1c28fd9c/1617285273892/ARP+Guidance+ on+Reopening+and+Operations+On+Letterhead.pdf.
Five Guiding Principles: How Schools Can Use American Rescue Plan Funding to Ensure Healthy, Resilient Facili- ties for Students and Reduce Energy Costs and Emissions. UndauntedK12 and Center for Green Schools, U.S. Green Building Council.
www.undauntedk12.org/ourwork/ guidanceonrescueactfunds.
The Green Schools Investment Guide for Healthy, Efficient, and Inspiring Learning Spaces. Center for Green Schools, U.S. Green Building Council.
www.centerforgreenschools. org/sites/default/files/resource-files/green-schools-invest- ment-guide.pdf.
Powering Down Guide: A Toolkit for Behavior Based En- ergy Efficiency in K–12 Schools. Center for Green Schools, U.S. Green Building Council. http://centerforgreenschools. org/sites/default/files/resource-files/Behavior-based-Effi- ciency.pdf.
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