EnergySmart Schools: Resources

Publications | Financing information | Related links

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Publications

Case Studies

An Alternative Approach to Financing and Delivery of a Capital Program: Greenville County School District, South Carolina (PowerPoint 9.4 MB) - InReFinancial presentation during the annual CEFPI conference
Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Collins, CO (PDF 169 KB)
Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits, Gregory Kats, October 2006 (PDF 711 KB)
Massachusetts High Performance School Buildings (PDF 4.5 MB) - Multiple Massachusetts K-12 high-performance schools are mentioned
Ponaganset High School Fuel Cell Education Initiative - Funded by the RI Renewable Energy Fund Solar on Schools Initiative
Whitman-Hansen Regional High School (PDF 1.5 MB) - This school received over $1 million in incentives

Design guides

Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools:
- Arctic and Subarctic Climates (PDF 5.1 MB)
- Cold and Humid Climates (PDF 3.2 MB)
- Cool and Dry Climates (PDF 3.2 MB)
- Cool and Humid Climates (PDF 3.3 MB)
- Hot and Dry Climates (PDF 3.1 MB)
- Hot and Humid Climates (PDF 3.1 MB)
- Temperate and Humid Climates (PDF 3.3 MB)
- Temperate and Mixed Climates (PDF 3.1 MB)
- Tropical Island Climates (PDF 5.0 MB)
LEED for Schools: Green Building Rating System
ASE's School Operations and Maintenance: Best Practices for Controlling Energy Costs (PDF 3.3 MB)
National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools (PDF 11.6 MB)
Designing High Performance Schools CD (PDF 54 KB, ZIP 41.2MB)
This PDF contains a link to a ZIP file that holds the contents of the Designing High Performance Schools CD. Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher and a file decompression utility are required to read this file.
Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings

Fact sheets

Financing an EnergySmart School (PDF 314 KB)
NSBA Endorses EnergySmart Schools (PDF 443 KB)
Reduce Operating Costs with an EnergySmart School Project (PDF 214 KB)

Financing information

Basic protocols used to finance energy efficient school projects

How to Finance Public Sector Energy Efficiency Projects (PDF 500 KB) addresses public school districts
ENERGY STAR – Money for Your Energy Upgrades - An Introduction to Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades in the Public Sector (PDF 3.1 MB) presentation
Massachusetts High Performance Green Schools Guidelines - Planning (PDF 6.6 MB) Comprehensive guide to planning and financing a high performance school

How to overcome operational and financial barriers

California's New High Performance Schools: Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) California program addresses technical aspects of efficient construction
Facilities Management Perspective: Barriers to Energy Efficiency School management oversees new construction
Savings-by-Design provides technical and financial assistance for new school construction in California
New York State's School Assistance Program reviews barriers and solutions for energy efficiency in New York State public schools
Presentation about the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) (PowerPoint 1.9 MB) - This presentation about the CHPS program addresses the technical aspects of efficient construction
Presentation on Barriers to Energy Efficiency from Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland (PowerPoint 654 KB) - The presentation addresses how school management can oversee new construction
Presentation by Pacific Gas & Electric (PowerPoint 389 KB) - Presentation about a statewide Energy Efficiency Program. Savings-by-Design provides technical and financial assistance
Presentation by NYSERDA (PowerPoint 281 KB) - New York's School Assistance Program discusses overcoming financial barriers

Case studies outlining various financing mechanisms

Cali Calmecac Charter school, Windsor, CA
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) - High Performance Schools Exchange
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - New Construction Program Case Studies
Connecticut Clean Energy Trail
ESCo Case Study (PDF 116 KB) - A case involving the use of an Energy Service Company in the financing of an energy efficient school project

Cost savings from performance-based contracts

National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO)
Comprehensive overview of U.S. ESCO market (PDF 77 KB)
Performance Contracting for School Buildings - List of articles, books, and other publications about performance contracting
Presentation on the U.S. ESCO market (PDF 77 KB) - This comprehensive overview explains how ESCOs work and how they can help organizations become more energy efficient
Reducing Operating Costs and Improving the Student Learning Environment - Energy-efficient capital upgrades in K-12 schools

Loans, grants, rebates, incentives, and legislation

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
DHS infrastructure hardening grants - Programs that support the implementation of the State Homeland Security Strategy to address the identified planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs for acts of terrorism
Federal and State Incentive program for Green Builders - A variety of funding choices including grants, tax-credits, and loans
High Performance School Exchange - NEEP State Policies and Regulations for School Buildings - Resources regarding New England state agencies that demonstrate the current school building requirements in each of the states
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) Lights for Learning Program - A school-oriented fundraiser that raises money through the sale of energy efficient CFLs. Schools receive 50% of the profit from CFL sales as well as bonuses for exemplary sales achievements
MTC Renewable Energy Trust Green School Grants - $15 million in grants are available to fund solar electric panels, wind turbines, and other clean technologies, as well as green building design and planning assistance
Massachusetts High Performance School Incentive - Massachusetts schools receive a 2% reimbursement of total project cost for school districts that have their projects MA-CHPS certified
New Hampshire High Performance School Incentive - New Hampshire law provides 3% incremental reimbursements for schools that build to high-performance standards
New York System Benefits Charge - The SBC funds public initiatives that are not addressed by New York's competitive electricity markets
NYSERDA Energy $martSM Loan Fund Program - Low-interest loans are offered for the purpose of providing an interest rate reduction on loans for certain energy-efficiency improvements or renewable technologies. Loan fund terms and documents are effective September 1, 2007 to July 31, 2009
RI High Performance School Incentive
RI Renewable Energy Fund and Rhode Island Solar on Schools Initiative - Rhode Island's Office of Energy Resources is dedicated to increasing the role of renewable energy in the state's electricity supply
Vermont Fuels for Schools Program - State-wide renewable energy-use initiative with the goal of providing schools with the information and support they need to evaluate and successfully implement woodchip and other biomass heating systems that replace expensive fossil fuels with locally produced wood fuels

Utilities and energy services

Duke Energy Foundation - The Foundation gives grants for environmental and energy efficiency projects
Efficiency Maine - This is state-wide provider that promotes the more efficient use of electricity for Maine residents. Funded by electricity consumers and administered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission, it offers school-related incentives under its business segment
Efficiency Maine - High Performance School related program
Efficiency Vermont - This is a state-wide provider of energy-efficiency services operated by an independent, non-profit organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. School-related incentives are offered under their business segment
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission Core Energy Efficiency programs - Utility programs designed for state-wide implementation, funded by the System Benefits Charge
Puget Sound Energy, Inc. Corporate Giving Program - The program offers grants, rebates, and other options for energy-efficient projects

Finance tools

California Energy Commission
NYSERDA Capital & Maintenance Planning Reports Toolbox (Excel 743 KB) - A tool for producing comprehensive maintenance plans, five-year capital facility plans, and facility report cards. Enable macros to access Excel spreadsheet

Renewable energy/schools materials

Current finance opportunities for the construction of renewable energy sources in schools:

New York Energy $martSM Photovoltaic (PV) Solar-Electric System Incentive Program (50kW and smaller) - Explains how solar power works and describes available incentives
On Site Small Wind in New York – Cash Incentives Available - Explains how wind power works and describes available incentives

State and regional energy efficiency programs

These programs have an active interest in financing energy efficiency projects for schools:

Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) (PDF 97 KB) - This fact sheet gives financial and technical reasons and resources for building an energy-efficient school
Energy Efficiency Financing/Bright Schools Program (California)
Greening Schools - Includes a comprehensive list of funding options for energy-efficient school projects
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC)
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) Green Schools Publications

Resources on bonds

Qualified Zone Academy Bonds - An established Zone Academy (school) with 35% or greater of their student body on the free and/or reduced lunch program, will qualify
Rhode Island Health and Education Building Corporation - The corporation issues tax-exempt bonds to non-profit institutions, which includes public and private primary and secondary schools

Regional energy efficiency technology leasing programs

These California-based leasing programs are examples of leasing opportunities available for the financing of energy efficiency projects:

Association of Bay Area Governments, Financial Services - This association offers a full range of programs to public and private borrowers in the municipal capital market
California School Board Association, Financial Services - List of financial services available through CSBA
California State Association of Counties, Financial Services - This program provides a broad array of financial services and programs to California's counties
League of California Cities and California State Association of Governments, California Statewide Communities Development Authority - The League provides various financing programs