Skip Navigation to main content U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy Education and Workforce Development
Related Publications

Wind for Schools: A Wind Powering America Project  (1.33 MB) 

A brochure on the Wind for Schools program. Details

NSBA Endorses EnergySmart Schools  (351 KB) 

EnergySmart Schools fact sheet on the EnergySmart Schools program that is endorsed by the National School Board Association (NSBA). Details

National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools  (9.05 MB) 

The Best Practices Manual was written as a part of the promotional effort for EnergySmart Schools, provided by the US Department of Energy, to educate school districts around the country about energy  Details

Related Publications 

Go To Library 

Download Adobe Reader 

School Buildings and Buses

Illustration of a four-column building.

Schools around the country are finding ways to use energy as efficiently as possible, not only to set an example for their students and communities, but also to save on the bottom line. Given that energy costs are second only to salaries in terms of school budgets, many school leaders are investing in energy-efficiency technologies in their buildings and fuel-saving technologies in their buses.

Photograph of a school building.

A number of programs can help you improve the energy efficiency of your school buildings, campus, and buses. Here are a few links to help you get started.

EnergySmart Schools
This link provides information to help school leaders plan, finance, design, build, and operate energy-efficient school buildings.

Alliance to Save Energy: About Green Schools
This program works with school districts level to assist schools in their efforts to be more energy efficient and simultaneously educate students through hands-on, real-world learning.

Alternative Fuels Data Center: School Buses
This link features a variety of information on the use of alternative fuels in school bus fleets.

Collaborative for High Performance Schools
This collaborative, which schools can join for free, provides a wide range of resources to help schools design, construct and operate high-performance schools: environments that are not only energy and resource efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well-lit, and containing the amenities for a quality education.

High Performance School Design: Online Training
This site provides interactive courses free of charge to design and engineering professionals specializing in sustainable design for K-12 schools. High-performance school design integrates daylighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency to build a school that runs efficiently, saves money, protects natural resources, and provides superior visual, acoustical, and thermal comfort.

North Carolina Solar Center
The North Carolina Solar Center works with schools across the state to design and install photovoltaic systems on campus.