Reduce Energy Use

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Did you know that buildings consume approximately 39 percent of the energy and 74 percent of the electricity produced annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy?

Schools spend about $8 billion a year on energy—more than on books and computers combined—but almost a third of that money is lost through wasted energy.  That’s expensive both for your school, and for the natural world which supplies our resources.  But you have the power to make your school run efficiently.  Using simple tools, you’ll be able to conduct an audit of your school’s energy and water use, and put your school on the path to savings.

Measure your impact

Track the kWh saved this year or just on your day of action. Either work with your facilities staff to choose a baseline energy use and see how much lower you can go, or estimate your impact by adding up the amount that was likely saved through each of your actions.

Get started

  • Get an overview of how a school uses energy from the EPA.
  • Look to the school’s facilities department or your local utility provider for support in conducting an energy walkthrough or a more comprehensive audit of your school.
  • Consider working with a free online energy tracking program such as Energy Star Portfolio Manager or an online audit resource like the Cool Schools Challenge.
  • Connect student learning with sustainability action. Learning Lab offers high-quality classroom content — over 450 lessons — for teachers from kindergarten to high school. Use the "Advanced Filters" to find more than 50 lessons at all grade levels that increase your students' energy literacy. You can find more modules to educate students about sustainability by searching Learning Lab's catalog by theme, primary subject, grade or keyword.

Additional resources