Best Practice Page
BP 1.1 Energy Efficiency (in development)
Best Practice: 1.1 Energy Efficiency: District/School has very little wasted energy.
This best practice is in process of development during the pilot. But you can still include energy efficiency actions in your project story and get credit for them. Contact GreenStep Schools to discuss how to document your energy efficiency accomplishments.
Meanwhile, please make use of our MN GreenStep Schools Energy Efficiency Advisor as a resource.
Resources
GreenStep Advisor
Contact Peter Lindstrom, MN GreenStep Schools Energy Efficiency Advisor at CERTS for assistance
GreenStep Resource Organizations
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) is a MN GreenStep Resource Organization with many resources to help schools with assessment and procurement of energy efficiency and clean energy resources.
Explore other GreenStep Resource Organizations for this best practice based on types of assistance they offer. As more resource organizations join, there will be more offerings and an ability to sort by type and topic of support.
Online Resources:
Minnesota B3 Benchmarking is a free, online tool for tracking energy and water usage to manage and reduce costs. Use of B3 Benchmarking is recommended by MN GreenStep Schools for both energy and water, and is a prerequisite to achieve GreenStep Schools Step Level 4. Note that use of B3Benchmarking in Schools is also required by Minnesota law.
Education Planning and Actions
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) is a MN GreenStep Resource Organization with many resources to help schools with assessment and procurement of energy efficiency and clean energy resources. They have experience supporting schools in Minnesota with energy efficiency and solar planning and can help schools connect to a network of professionals for further development. See the Certs guidance in categories of:
Energy Assessment
Selecting Renewable Energy Options
Procurement
Financing
Bids and Contracts
Community Engagement
Educational Integration
Electric School Buses
Research and Case Studies
Additional Resources on integrating energy efficiency and clean energy into curriculum or extracurricular activities
· Clean Energy Bright Futures, Resources for Teachers
· USA, National Wildlife Federation, Energy and Climate Change Pathways to Sustainability, 2015
· Grid Alternatives, Solar Futures Toolkit
· Let’s Go Solar, Solar kits, camps, projects, and resources for kids, teens, parents, and teachers
· REcharge Labs, Solar Activity Ideas
· U.S. Department of Energy, Online K-12 Learning Resources
· NYSERDA, Resources for P-12 Schools