K-12 school districts spend nearly $8 billion annually on energy costs, the second largest expense after teacher salaries. Aging facilities combined with limited school budgets result in deferred maintenance of facilities with an estimated $270 billion needed for infrastructure repairs.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is challenging organizations to set ambitious, portfolio-wide GHG emission reduction goals. This new effort provides additional opportunities for peer exchange and technical assistance to meet the urgent call to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The National Environmental Education Foundation’s Climate Superstars Challenge is an online environmental challenge that gets kids excited about the environment and how they can take an active role in caring for its future. During the challenge, middle school classrooms and after-school programs in grades 6-8 complete short tasks geared towards environmental literacy and energy efficiency. Classes that complete a specified number of tasks are entered into a prize drawing.  Consult the program website for specific dates and registration links.

The Vitamin N Challenge was inspired by Richard Louv’s book on Vitamin N that includes 500 practical ideas to leading a nature-rich life. Join the challenge to help youth on summer break spend time outdoors.

Pre-College University launched the Environmental Justice Academy, with funding by the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management, to introduce individuals to the field of Environmental Justice. The free courses are designed for all skill levels and include Environmental Justice 101 and Climate Justice.

The Xerces Society free resources for educators and parents include a new invertebrate exploration activity book, YouTube channel for youth, monarch toolkit, and identification and monitoring guides. All of the resources are designed to help inspire the next generation to care for invertebrates.

Allergy & Asthma Network is excited to announce the launch of its new podcast series, Kids Breathe Better! This podcast series is designed to give parents and caregivers helpful tips and strategies to manage their child’s asthma symptoms.  Over the next few months, the Network will release four engaging podcast episodes that will be hosted by a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 35 years of experience in working with children with asthma. 

Parents and schools need to partner to care for students with asthma and life-threatening allergies, as well as other related conditions.

This Guide explains how schools can use EXHALE strategies, individually or in combination, to help people with asthma achieve better health outcomes.

July 8, 2022 webinar recording. Webinar speakers include Secretary Miguel Cardona, Dr. Ashish Jha, as well as CDC and EPA subject matter experts.

Tree-Plenish is a non-profit that helps schools host community tree-planting events to offset their school's energy consumption. It's like a project in a box! Tree-Plenish supports schools every step of the event hosting process from picking the right species all the way to setting up on the day of the event. Tree-Plenish orders and ships the saplings, creates a custom website for each school's event, provides mentorship support, and so much more. The event comes at no cost to the school.

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2020 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2019 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2016 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Learn from past ED-GRS honorees.  Then apply to your state education authorities for their nomination to ED today!

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Learn from past ED-GRS honorees.  Then apply to your state education authorities for their nomination to ED today!

This report underscores the importance of using a whole-institution approach to including climate change in education policy.

This design guide should be used to prioritize decisions related to Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system design and operation for both existing facilities (commissioning, maintenance, improvement, and retrofit projects) and new facilities in order to improve indoor air quality while limiting energy consumption.

The Decarbonization Roadmap Guide is written for those interested in healthy, efficient, carbon neutral school design, construction and operation. It outlines achievable goals that result in healthy, affordable, all-electric facilities, and explains common actions taken by leading districts to operationalize their carbon neutral ambitions.

EPA has created this voluntary assessment to help you reduce and prevent exposures to common environmental health hazards in your school. This fillable PDF was adapted from the quick assessment in the brochure Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments. For more information, go to EPA's Healthy Schools website.

This brochure is designed to address some of the most common areas of environmental health concerns found in schools. It also provides one-stop access to learn some facts about these issues and the many existing low cost or no cost, affordable measures, programs and resources available to help prevent, reduce and resolve each of the highlighted environmental hazards. By completing the voluntary Quick Assessment activity provided near the end of this brochure, schools can determine which areas and programs will require more detailed attention. Additionally, by implementing the waste reduction and energy efficiency actions highlighted, schools can conserve valuable, financial resources.