Office of Energy & Sustainability Programs

Youth Leadership Council (YLC)

The Office of Energy & Sustainability’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC) empowers diverse high school students from NYC Public Schools to increase inclusive and impactful sustainability and climate action across schools and communities. YLC members:

• Develop leadership and teamwork skills to empower action in their schools & communities 

• Learn about student advocacy, sustainability, and climate change 

• Build youth networks within the YLC and across the DOE 

• Plan the NYC Public Schools Youth Climate Summit

• Lead successful Climate Action Days in their schools   

• Travel to sustainability and environmental landmarks across the city to learn about community grassroots action 

• Obtain community service hours for meetings and for work outside of meetings  

• Receive mentorship from Office of Energy & Sustainability staff and YLC peers  

Youth Climate Event

At our annual student event, high school students gain critical leadership and problem solving skills. Students become equipped with climate action knowledge, and develop networks to expand sustainability in their communities.

rFUTURE

A collaboration with the Clean Green Music Machine (CGMM, Inc) and Theater Arts Production Company High School (TAPCo).

rFUTURE is a sustainability, leadership and empowerment program. Students are asked: What is the single, greatest challenge to creating a sustainable existence in their community?

They use music and video to share their observations and solutions:

1. Students partner with professional musician mentors. Together they write an original song about sustainability. 

2. Other students, studying videography at DOE’s Theatre Arts Production Company School (TAPCo) in the Bronx, film the whole process. Then, they create a documentary-style film.

rFUTURE 2023 is available to watch on YouTube!

NYC Solar Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program

This program, facilitated by Solar One, integrates solar content into existing electrical and engineering courses at CTE High Schools. The goal is to prepare students for green workforce opportunities.

Learn more about Solar CTE Program. This program is only available to CTE schools.

Climate and Energy Education Intensive

The goal of this program, facilitated by Solar One, is to connect solar installations on school buidlings to curriculums. Solar One's K-12 curriculum is STEM-focused and interdisciplinary, providing students with hands-on learning. Topics include: solar field study, wind turbines, carbon cycle, energy storage, and more. Up to 5 CTLE credits. 

Pick one date to attend (8 am - 2 pm); all three sessions are in-person in Long Island City and cover the same content:

• January 29

• February 3

• March 2

Register for the Climate + Energy Education Intensive.

Climate Education Leadership Team (CELT)

In response to growing interest and need for classroom-based teaching and learning about climate change, the NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability and Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning created a Climate Education Leadership Team (CELT). The CELT represents proactive teachers and school administrators across a diverse range of subjects, grade levels, areas of interest, and communities, all of whom are eager to lead the way towards addressing the gap in formal climate education in NYC schools.

Read more on our CELT page.

Annual Sustainability Project Grant

Apply for a hydroponics tower or up to $5K to fund sustainability projects/programs in: 

• gardening & outdoor learning

• climate action and advocacy

• sustainability and climate education

2023-24 Sustainability Project Grant Application is now closed! You can find other grant opportunities here.