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Welcome to The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program

The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program (EHSP) aims to engage K-12 schools to improve energy performance and indoor air quality, with a focus on practical solutions involving HVAC and other technologies to reduce energy use and advance resilience. This program is led by the U.S. Department of Energy with technical support from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and New Buildings Institute.

Join Today

Joining the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program is easy and free.

We invite you to join a growing network of schools, school districts, and supporting organizations in the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program. The program aims to improve energy performance, advance resilience, and promote a healthy learning environment in schools. 

Options once you join the program include: regular working groups, peer-to-peer discussions, and technical support on practical solutions that improve energy performance, reduce carbon emissions and promote a healthy learning environment in your school. Join us!

Upcoming Events

Recognition Office Hours

December 12th, 2024 2pm ET | Registration

Interested in submitting an application for Recognition from the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program, but unsure which category is best? Want to learn more about the recognition program and how to apply? Join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program team on December 12th (11:00 am PT | 2:00 PM ET) for our Recognition Office Hours where we will answer your questions, demonstrate the application process, and provide one-on-one support to recognition applicants. Come ready with your questions and materials, or just show up and learn alongside others! Please follow the link to register for the office hours, so we can ensure there are enough team members to support attendees of the office hours.

 

Webinar on Commissioning: The Key to Building Systems That Work

January 22nd, 2024 2pm ET | Registration

On January 21 from 11a PT | 2p ET, join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program team to learn about the importance of commissioning new systems to ensure that they function properly. Commissioning is the key to making sure that schools get what they paid for before project turnover and while equipment is still within the warranty period. Learn from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory experts about the steps of proper commissioning: documentation, verification procedures, functional performance tests, validation, and training. This webinar will share resources that schools can rely on when planning for commissioning. Attendees will also hear from IDEA Public Schools (Texas) about how they instituted a new policy to engage an independent third-party commissioning agent (CxA) and found significant improvements. 

Announcements

2024 Best of Green Schools Award

Children raising hands in classroom with text "2024 Best of Green Schools Awardee"

The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program has been named a 2024 Best of Green Schools Award recipient for the Moment for the Movement category, presented by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Schools National Network. The awards celebrate the hard work being done by people, schools, campuses, and organizations to push energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in schools around the country. Read more here!

 

ASHRAE Schools Partnership Program

Cityscape with words "schools partnership program"

ASHRAE is working on a multi-pronged effort to support ASHRAE Chapters to reach out to their local schools to share technical information on improving energy and indoor air quality. Currently, 14 Pilot ASHRAE Chapters have signed up. The program intends to engage with schools especially in disadvantaged or rural communities. Interested in being a part of this program? Learn more!

Interested in finding out more?

Please contact the Efficient and Healthy Schools team via email at schools@lbl.gov.