Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools

NASEO Partners and Projects

• NASEO partners with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to advance building energy benchmarking and energy improvements for existing commercial buildings, which include K-12 school facilities. Through the ENERGY STAR program, EPA has compiled a suite of resources ranging from guidance for local governments on potential energy efficiency improvement programs at K-12 schools to treasure hunts for students and administration on energy saving behavioral changes and best practices.  
  • EPA Webpage: K-12 Schools
  • EPA Publication: ENERGY STAR Energy Efficiency Student Toolkit
  • EPA Publication: Factsheet on ENERGY STAR Certification for Schools 
• With the support of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, NASEO maintains a map that summarizes programs operated by State and Territory Energy Offices and state or territory-level agency counterparts, focused on data management, governance, planning, assessment, funding and financing, facilities management, standards setting, and STEM education. State and Territory Energy Offices may use this resource to identify program implementation models from other states and cross-agency offerings that support high-performing and energy-efficient K-12 school facilities.
  • NASEO Report: Energy Efficient and Healthy K-12 Public School Facilities: Opportunities for State Energy Offices and State Education Agencies to Collaborate
  • NASEO Map: State K-12 School Energy Program Map

Case Studies and Resources

• Kentucky Shared Energy Manager Case Study
• NASEO and E4TheFuture, Shared Energy Manager Program-in-a-Box

NASEO Webinars

NASEO Webinar: Empowering Local Education Agencies – The Role of State and Territory Energy Offices in School Energy Upgrades (November 4, 2024)
This webinar provides an overview of a NASEO report for State and Territory Energy Offices on collaborating with State Education Agencies to support local K-12 school districts on improving facility energy efficiency and indoor air quality. This call also highlighted additional resources on best practices for State Energy Offices on administering existing school energy programs and strengthening cross-agency partnerships to advance energy-efficient and healthy school buildings.

Click here to view the YouTube recording.

Click here to view the webinar slides.

NASEO Buildings Committee Webinar: Allowable Uses of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding for K-12 Schools Retrofits (August 17, 2021)
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided nearly $122 billion to states and schools to support reopening of K-12 schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the this ARPA fund brings the total funding allocated to $176 billion in emergency funding for K-12 schools to respond to COVID-19. Since the Act was passed in March, many states have had questions about how the funds can be utilized, and if energy efficiency projects are eligible for funding. During this half day webinar, NASEO partners will provide an update to participating State Energy Offices on the allowable uses of ESSER funding, including through public private partnerships such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts.

Click here to view the YouTube recording.

Webinar Slides

• NASEO Slides
• DOE Slides
• Center for Green Schools Slides

Additional Resources

• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for State and Territory Energy Offices
• U.S. Department of Energy – Efficient Healthy Schools
• American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy- “With Schools Set to Reopen, U.S. Needs to Help Them Clean the Air and Save Energy”
• U.S. GAO. School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacement, June 2020
• The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council
• Center for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
• U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools