EnergySmart Schools
EnergySmart Schools mean healthier children and teachers – and a healthy planet. They also save money for America's school districts. On this site, you can learn more about how to:
Why EnergySmart Schools?
- Schools spend more on energy than any other expense except personnel.
- A high-performance school doesn't have to cost more to construct than a conventionally built school.
- High-performance schools can lower a school district's operating costs by up to 30%.
- Energy is one of the few expenses a school can reduce without sacrificing educational quality.
- Schools are central to the communities they serve and should reflect community values – like energy and resource conservation.
- Schools are a great place to teach the nation's children about energy and resource conservation.
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Plan: Building an energy-efficient school depends on "whole building" systems design, which requires more planning than for most conventional schools. |
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Finance: Securing financing is an important step in any building or renovation project. For projects incorporating energy-efficient features, financing options may be available beyond the traditional choices. |
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Design and Build: The greatest opportunities for incorporating energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact come in the design and construction phases. |
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Operate and Maintain: Addressing operations and maintenance considerations at the start of a project can maximize benefits for decades to come. |
Students and Teachers - Get Smart About Energy CD-ROM
The EnergySmart Schools program provides more than 350 lesson plans and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy for grades K-12. Each includes a short summary that identifies curriculum integration, time, and materials. The lessons are aligned to National Science Education Standards.
