Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit
DOE developed the Low Carbon Technology Strategies guidance documents to support you in your journey to reduce carbon emissions in your buildings. The primary purpose is to aid owners and operators of existing buildings in planning retrofit and operational strategies to achieve deep carbon reductions. These strategy documents supplement existing energy design guides where new construction is the focus. Low Carbon Technology Strategies are currently available for 10 building types, including schools.
Zero Net Energy School Retrofit Trainings
New Buildings Institute offers webinars and workshops on how existing K-12 school and community college buildings in California achieved zero net energy performance. Slides and recordings are from 2018.
The Process for Zero Energy K-12 Schools: The Next Series of ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides
This is a seminar series on how to achieve the zero target through practical approaches including HVAC design. Talks include successful zero energy case studies, as presented at the 2018 ASHRAE Winter Conference.
Why K-12 Should Feature in America’s National Climate Strategy
While our K-12 schools are responsible for a modest share of overall building4 and transportation emissions in the US, the sector is positioned to catalyze increased awareness, public support, workforce development, innovation, and, most critically, the shifts in mindset that form the foundation for any success we might envision.
The Building Electrification Technology Roadmap for Schools
Learn strategies tailored for K-12 schools to reduce carbon emissions from water heating, HVAC, buses, and other technologies that power classrooms and operational spaces. This report provides K-12 leaders a roadmap and decision-making tools to electrify their school buildings.
School Decarbonization Strategy Spotlight: Kitchen Electrification
Kitchens are a critical component of schools, especially for schools and districts with a high percentage of students receiving meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); in the 2022 fiscal year, the NSLP provided 4.8 billion low-cost or free lunches.1 This resource guide provides information about all-electric kitchens and how to incorporate them into a school or district decarbonization roadmap.
School Decarbonization Strategy Spotlight: Electric School Buses
With nearly a third of school buses required to be electric in the near future, the transition to electric school buses is picking up momentum. This resource guide spotlights electrifying school buses and incorporating electric vehicle charging infrastructure in schools and districts.