FAQs

FAQs

What is the goal of the program?

The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program aims to engage K-12 schools  —especially those serving low-income student populations—  to reduce energy costs and improve energy performance and indoor environmental quality. The program will help schools identify practical solutions and upgrades to improve energy efficiency while promoting healthier spaces for teaching and learning.

Who are the program organizers?

The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program is led by the U.S. Department of Energy, with technical support from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The campaign was developed with contributions from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

How do I join the program?

Joining the program is easy and free. Please complete our web form to join the program either as a participant or a supporter. For more information, please contact the Efficient and Healthy Schools team via email at schools@lbl.gov.

What are the benefits of joining the program?

Participants and supporters will receive our campaign newsletter on best practices and case studies. Participating schools can also engage in peer-to-peer learning, receive direct technical assistance, receive recognition, and contribute to the development of technical resources to HVAC solutions that improve energy performance and indoor air quality. Supporters can partner with the campaign team to promote improvements in K-12 schools and share the benefits of efficient and healthy school buildings.

Can all K-12 schools (public, private, charter, magnet) participate in the Program?

Yes. We welcome any K-12 schools and school districts to join as participants. In particular, the program encourages schools serving low-income student populations to participate.

What categories of recognition will be given in the program?

The upcoming 2023/2024 Recognition and documentation will be posted here. For questions or more information about the recognition process, please reach out to us at schools@lbl.gov. Please see the projects from our latest round of recognition here

What will the organizers do with the data submitted by participants and supporters?

The program will describe aggregated data collected from participants and supporters. The program will obtain agreement from participants and supporters on a case-by-case basis when sharing information about individual organizations for recognition or to support peer-to-peer learning and other program purposes.

How can my organization get recognized in the program?

The upcoming 2023/2024 Recognition and documentation will be posted here. For questions or more information about the recognition process, please reach out to us at schools@lbl.gov.

What is the difference between a program participant and supporter?

Efficient and Healthy Schools Program participants are K-12 schools and school districts that are interested in reducing energy costs and improving energy performance and indoor environmental quality.

How long does it take to complete the submission template for recognition?

We anticipate that a school facilities or energy staff with information about the projects they would like to be recognized for can complete the submission template in 30 minutes or less. If there are documentations that describe the kind of information that the recognition is looking for, we encourage schools to submit their documents to expedite the review.

Is there a downloadable document with some basic information about the campaign that I can share with my school?

Yes, a one-page information sheet about the campaign is available for download as a pdf.