Past Topical Webinars
Guidance to control airborne infection risks: what schools need to know
Aug 2023: Speakers discuss new guidance from both CDC and ASHRAE that schools can rely on when deciding what actions to take to reduce airborne infection risks.
School IAQ Management
June 2023: Speakers discussed the importance of an indoor air quality (IAQ) management plan as schools transition from pandemic responses. Learn how to maintain and update a comprehensive IAQ management plan in schools, including the use of air monitoring to inform decisions about building operations and improvements.
Energy Efficiency Plus Health Recognition Program Track
Jan-Mar 2023: webinars from this series discusses Making the Case to Save Energy and Improve Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools, Understanding Your Building Stock, and Building Assessment Tools for School Energy Retrofits K-12.
Emissions Reduction and Resilience Recognition Program Track
Jan-Mar 2024: webinars from this series include: Making the Case for Carbon Reduction and Electrification Readiness for School Districts, Understanding Greenhouse Gas Tracking and Reporting in School Districts, and Take Action on Climate! Planning for Climate Vulnerability and Resiliency in Schools.
Decarbonization for Schools
November 2022: Resources for decarbonization of existing schools, including tools and guides from DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative, best practices, and practical examples from school districts.
Team Approach to Support Strategic Investments in Efficient and Healthy Schools
June 2022: Presenters shared best practices for engaging the school community in strategic planning and investments for efficient and healthy schools. New Buildings Institute shared highlights from their recently released Decarbonization Roadmap Guide for School Building Decision Makers.
Bright Futures - Technologies Transforming Schools
Nov 2024: Join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program to learn about how two school districts have successfully implemented new technologies that have transformed their schools. Hamilton Southeastern Schools (Indiana), a 2023-2024 recognition honoree, will share their innovative solar project and integration with their curriculum. You will also learn from Los Angeles Unified School District (California), a participant of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Heat Pump Campaign that is installing heat pumps to transition to all electric heating and cooling.
Efficient HVAC for Indoor Environmental Quality
July 2022: this webinar's topics include: technical specifications for HVAC retrofits, resulting in reduction in energy costs and improvements in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, and best practices to ensure that HVAC retrofits meet energy goals and provide a healthy learning environment.
HVAC Inspection and Maintenance for Indoor Air Quality
May 2022: this webinar's topics include: best practices for implementing an inspection and maintenance policy to ensure adequate ventilation and effective filtration for good IAQ, including utilizing approaches to aid systemic inspection of equipment, performing testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) to verify HVAC performance, ongoing workforce training, and additional steps to ensure effective filtration and optimized performance.
Ongoing Monitoring and Analytics for HVAC Performance
May 2022: Presenters shared best practices for using energy management and information systems (EMIS) to improve HVAC performance and operation through fault detection and diagnostics, benchmarking, and commissioning.
Scalable HVAC Retrofits to Improve School Indoor Air Quality
February 2023: this webinar focuses on identifying retrofit approaches given their existing equipment and building conditions. From smaller retrofits to complete equipment replacement, speakers dive into options focused on improving IAQ by HVAC system types commonly used in schools. Speakers also shared results of a study evaluating indoor air quality in Baltimore City Public Schools pre- and post- renovation projects.
Retrofit Packages for Schools: Performance Requirements, Energy Savings and Cost
October 2022: Speakers discussed newly released retrofit packages consisting of complementary efficiency measures to provide greater savings and benefits. Four retrofit packages were covered: building management system upgrade, boiler replacement, chiller replacement, and RTU replacement.
Lighting Retrofits for Schools
October 2022: Presenters discussed projects relevant to lighting, and highlighted useful lighting standards, tools, and guides for schools, such as lighting resources from the Better Buildings Initiative. Additional topics include the U.S. Department of Energy's Integrated Lighting Campaign, where an in-depth example of an innovative lighting project at Holt Public Schools is provided.
Funding for Facilities' Needs
March 2024: View this webinar to learn about funding for achieving efficient and healthy school improvements. K-12 schools and their supporters will hear about federal funding opportunities, approaches to leverage state and local funds, and examples of how schools have creatively funded projects to improve their facilities and prepare for the future.