ED Announces Proposal for Office and Clearinghouse for Infrastructure and Sustainability

On April 4, Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Secretaries Cardona and Granholm, announced the Administration’s plan to upgrade public schools with modern, efficient facilities and transportation—promoting achievement, health, and financial savings to districts. This announcement included ED's proposal for a new Office of Infrastructure and Sustainability to support schools in creating healthy, safe, sustainable, 21^st century learning environments, as well as to house a National Clearinghouse on School Infrastructure and Sustainability and administer the ongoing U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award. The proposed national clearinghouse would provide technical assistance and training to state and local education agencies on issues related to educational facility planning, design, financing, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance, including green building design and operation practices consistent with the Administration’s commitment to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

The Department of Education also named a Special Advisor for Infrastructure and Sustainability to support policy and programmatic decisions and spearhead agencywide coordination to support school sustainability and infrastructure.

ED-GRS Announces 2022 Director’s Award Recipient

The Director’s Award annually recognizes a state education agency official who does the most to advance sustainable schools by running a robust competition process; connecting more schools to resources in all three ED-GRS Pillars; amplifying the stories of honorees; helping schools learn from one another; partnering with a variety of entities to bring more resources and expertise into schools; and exhibiting a dedication to exceptional school facilities, health, and environmental education through activities outside of the administration of ED-GRS.

ED is delighted to have named Jon Long, school architect at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, as the 2022 Director’s Award recipient. Mr. Long’s leadership and dedication have been integral to ED-GRS’ success in North Carolina. He has worked to cultivate applicants in the state by mentoring, exhibiting flexibility, and conducting outreach. Mr. Long hosted the ambitious 2021 Green Strides Tour in North Carolina, despite various pandemic challenges. He has gone above and beyond his stated job description of school architect and worked across traditional silos to make connections among the built and natural environment, green schoolyards, the school as a learning tool, and overall student wellness and academic achievement.  

Department of Energy Recognizes Best Practices in Efficient and Healthy Schools

The Department of Energy Efficient and Healthy Schools campaign provides recognition and technical assistance to school districts seeking to implement high-impact indoor air quality and efficiency improvements that will reduce energy bills and improve student and teacher health. To date, 26 school districts across 16 states have joined or are prepared to join the campaign, representing over 1.5 million students in 2,600 individual schools. The campaign announced its first round of recognition of six districts for their best-in-class efforts in one or more areas:

• Boulder Valley School District, Colorado
• Charleston County School District, South Carolina
• Columbia Public Schools, Missouri
• Davis School District, Utah
• Greenville County Schools, South Carolina
• Newark Board of Education, New Jersey

The campaign will host a webinar series to share success stories from these and other districts. Learn more about the Efficient and Healthy Schools campaign, including how to join the here.

2022 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Coming This Month!

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. By highlighting schools’, districts’, and postsecondary institutions’ cost-saving, health-promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices, ED-GRS celebrates these schools and brings more attention to their work. 

Early learning centers, schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions do not apply to ED for this award, but instead to their state K-12 or postsecondary education authority. ED will announce the 2022 honorees on Earth Day, April 22. The schools are invited to a summer ceremony in Washington, D.C., where they receive a sustainable plaque; are the subject of media attention; and have their efforts celebrated. Other schools, in turn, learn about and adopt their practices.

For those schools that have not already received the award, now is a great time to begin preparing for the 2022-2023 application cycle by using the resources and programs available on the Green Strides School Sustainability Resource Hub and by contacting their state education authority. Review frequently asked questions for all three (school, district, postsecondary) award categories. Interested colleges and universities should contact their state higher education authorities, while schools and districts should contact state education agencies. 

State education authorities can find award criteria and other state implementation guidance on ED's website and may contact U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools for more information.  

Department of Energy Invests in More Efficient School Buildings 

Yesterday, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a Request for Information to launch its new $500 million grant program for energy improvements at public school facilities, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  These grants can support comprehensive energy efficiency audits and building retrofits, HVAC and lighting upgrades, clean energy installation, and more—along with training to help staff maintain these improvements over the long-term. DOE will prioritize projects in rural and high-poverty schools, and support leveraging of additional private, philanthropic, and public funding to maximize the benefits of these grants. 

DOE is also accelerating a range of grants, technical assistance, and lending to support schools along each step of the school improvement process. These efforts include the Better Buildings Challenge and its K-12 Sector partnerships; DOE’s new tool—eProject eXpress—that can support state and local governments and K-12 schools in Energy Savings Performance Contracting project management and help leverage financing to maximize impact; and DOE’s Loan Programs Office Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Solicitation that can be accessed by schools to provide up to $3 billion in loan guarantees for retrofit projects. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and Department of Agriculture Expand Efficient and Safe School Transportation 

Throughout this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release additional online resources to help school districts and other eligible recipients prepare for the $5 billion Clean School Bus Program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  To support projects that help students safely walk and bike to school, the Department of Transportation is providing state and local governments with guidance to utilize a pool of $90 billion in available federal funding, including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new commitment to support school facility and vehicle electrification, including school buses. In support of this commitment, USDA released new guidance that informs how Rural Development programs can support rural electric cooperatives to advance electrification projects for schools and other public facilities and vehicles.

NAAEE's EE 30 Under 30 Nominations Closes April 11

Since 2016, North American Association for Environmental Education's EE 30 Under 30 program has recognized a total of 180 individuals from 40 countries who are making a difference through environmental education. The EE 30 Under 30 Class of 2022 will receive global recognition, join a growing community of inspiring EE leaders, and receive ongoing opportunities for professional development and networking, including scholarship opportunities to attend the 2022 NAAEE conference. Environmental education and leadership can take many different forms so applicants from across sectors and disciplines are welcome. Apply by April 11 online.

U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit is May 17-19

The U.S. Department of Energy's next Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit will take place May 17-19, 2022 in Arlington, VA. This event will feature engaging and interactive sessions, as well as opportunities for attendees to network with their fellow industry peers and experts. View the agenda and register.

Summer Institute for Climate Change Education is July 18-19

Climate Generation’s Summer Institute for Climate Change Education is hosted in partnership  with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Climate Office. Join a network of teachers from across the country for a two-day virtual conference plus regional breakouts on a third day to learn new tools, skills, and resources to teach climate change in any subject area! Topics will include data, communication, and equity. Learn more about registration and scholarship opportunities.

The Green Strides Webinars continue through spring

The Green Strides Webinar Series has promoted over 2,300 sessions that provide free tools to reduce schools’ environmental impact and costs, improve health and wellness, and teach effective environmental education. Consult the webinar calendar, and submit suggestions for listing additional free, publicly available webinars related to school, district, and postsecondary sustainability to ed.green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov. (Note: All times listed are ET.)

Apr. 6, 5-6 p.m. Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Outdoor Learning (Big Green)

Apr. 6, 7-8 p.m. Artemis Future Missions (NASA)

Apr. 7, 7-8 p.m. GLOBE Atmosphere & Clouds (NASA)

Apr. 13, 2-3:15 p.m. Portfolio Manager 101 (EPA)

Apr. 13, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Become An AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsor (AmeriCorps)

Apr. 19, 1-2 p.m. How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Benchmarking K-12 Schools (EPA)

Apr. 19, 5-6 p.m. Earth Observing Satellites and the Engineering Design Process (NASA)

Apr. 20, 3-4 p.m. Taking on Traffic Laws:  A How-To Guide for Decriminalizing Mobility (Safe Routes Partnership)

Apr. 21, 1-2 p.m. Portfolio Manager 201 (EPA)

Apr. 27, 5-6 p.m. Teaching and Learning Outside (Out Teach)

Apr. 28, 5-6 p.m. Explore Earth with GOES-T Weather Satellite (NASA)

May 4, 12-1 p.m. Portfolio Manager – Ask the Expert (EPA)

May 4, 3-4 p.m. Environmental and Social Justice Forces (AASHE)

May 11, 5-6 p.m. Creating Outdoor Spaces: The Infrastructure of Living Schoolyards (Green Schoolyards America)