The Financial Return of Sustainability

Getting serious about climate action planning has its bottom-line benefits for school districts

As students, parents and community leaders become more concerned about the planet’s changing climate, they are asking education leaders to take part in addressing and responding to the challenges they see close to home.

Environmental sustainability is a relatively unfamiliar concept for many in school leadership, prompting school districts to hire dedicated sustainability professionals to define goals and drive organization-wide progress that will benefit the schools and the broader community.

Even without creating new positions, assigning an individual to spearhead climate action planning, aided by professional development and effective partnerships, can be impactful. Full-time sustainability directors can yield significant returns — averaging 10 times their salary in operational savings, grants, incentives and donated services — making any investment in this role worthwhile.

A Role Defined

Sustainability staff are champions for green schools, as defined by the three pillars of the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Award: reduced environmental impact, enhanced human health and increased environmental literacy. Through cross-departmental collaboration, they drive the development of policies, strategies, frameworks and behaviors to achieve greater whole school sustainability.

Sustainability staff ensure project follow-through, resource savings, funding opportunities and healthier facilities, benefiting staff and students. Moreover, they play a vital role in educating students about climate science, modeling sustainability solutions and involving them in green job experiences.

Due to their involvement in the Center for Green Schools’ Sustainability Leaders Network — the sole learning community for this role — we’re aware of 100 public school districts employing sustainability staff. In 2023, the Center for Green Schools published the results of our third survey about their roles, successes and challenges. Notably, we found:

Hiring PK-12 sustainability professionals at all levels, from director to coordinator, can pay off greatly for a school district. On average, sustainability staff achieve annual savings of $1 million, which equates to around $19,000 per school.

School districts that hire a sustainability professional do so primarily through the advocacy of internal staff, faculty or administrative champions.

Over time, PK-12 sustainability professionals are gaining positional power. Our 2015, 2019 and 2022 surveys show a gradual movement toward being positioned closer to their superintendent in the organizational chart.

Between 2019 and 2022, 20 percent more respondents reported working on a sustainability management plan or climate action plan, highlighting the importance of districtwide planning.

Climate Planning

Comprehensive climate action planning is needed to navigate the complex landscape of environmental sustainability and to effectively address climate challenges within districts’ educational systems. Understanding and supporting such plans empower school district teams to make informed decisions, enhance resource efficiency and cultivate a culture of sustainability, fostering a healthier and more environmentally responsible future for students and staff.

Many elements of a climate action plan, such as addressing aging and inefficient infrastructure and transitioning from gasoline to electric buses, can be costly. The good news is that the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act established unprecedented opportunities for schools through new and expanded funding to improve the sustainability and resilience of their buildings and infrastructure. (See resources sidebar, below.)

However, investments in more efficient energy, water and operational systems have long-term cost savings associated, which often offset first costs over time. Given that utility costs are the second highest single cost for school districts outside of personnel — totaling more than $8 billion in expenses for U.S. public school districts each year — the potential for savings is considerable.

In a 2013 literature review for the Pentagon on energy savings, the National Academies found that  savings for high-performance or green buildings on average used 5 to 30 percent less site energy than similar conventional buildings. Similarly, the studies providing some evaluation of water use found high-performance or green buildings used 8 to 11 percent less water on average than conventional buildings.

The 22 certified green buildings examined in a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory study for the U.S. Department of Energy reported almost 20 percent lower maintenance costs than typical commercial buildings.

District Experiences

The recent experiences of several school systems illustrate how climate action planning has impacted the bottom line and become core to each district’s mission.

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

With just over 5,000 students, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, just west of Boston, was an early leader in the green school movement, earning a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award in 2013.

Early on, led by a sustainability champion at the district who began work there in 2010, Acton-Boxborough conducted electrification and cost-analysis studies while incorporating innovative strategies in school building projects. Operating an advanced battery storage system on its main campus for the past 2.5 years, the district generates an impressive $70,000 in annual revenue and cost savings while also contributing to regional electricity grid support and stability.

In line with its comprehensive sustainability strategy, the district has invested in research to facilitate a districtwide transition away from fossil fuels. A commissioned Electrification Roadmap study in 2022 outlines a strategic timeline and costs for electrifying existing school buildings over the next two decades, aligning with Massachusetts’ statewide goals for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, a completed life cycle cost analysis engineering study focused on the impact of replacing aging HVAC rooftop units. For the district, opting for all-electric rooftop units not only promises substantial financial benefits but also contributes significantly to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

One major highlight is the district’s new 175,000-square foot, all-electric geothermal school building. With an ultra-efficient electric HVAC system and advanced building envelope, it is more cost-effective to operate than traditional gas-fired buildings. The large onsite solar array and battery storage system, to come online soon, aims to make the building net zero energy, providing on-site power generation to meet all the building’s energy needs without greenhouse gas emissions.

Acton-Boxborough recognizes the educational opportunities inherent to the district’s sustainability efforts and actively involves students in its initiatives. The engagement extends beyond infrastructure to include student “green teams,” compost and recyclable sorting in school cafeterias and energy tours of the all-electric geothermal school building. These hands-on learning experiences ensure a holistic approach to sustainability, shaping the mindset of future generations.

Denver Public Schools

Denver Public Schools, which serves 89,000 students across 207 schools, has emerged as a sustainability leader since establishing its sustainability team in 2009.

Initially focused on energy management and school gardens, the district has since diversified its efforts by securing funding to drive comprehensive climate action, including through grants, energy performance contracts, bonds and bond reserves.

In January, the district received funding through the EPA’s Clean School Bus program to purchase 20 new clean school buses. Its sustainability director, with more than seven years of experience leading school district change, drives this comprehensive approach.

In 2019, an energy performance contract upgraded 27 schools and implemented solar installations at 14 campuses, resulting in $1.6 million in guaranteed annual utility savings. A districtwide retrofit to LED lighting from T8 fluorescent lights saved an additional $1.5 million annually.

Utilizing 2020 bond funds, Denver Public Schools has prioritized sustainability by installing electric heat pumps at eight schools, which improves efficiency and electrifies the schools’ heating. In the district’s newest elementary school, an all-electric space and water heating system will be installed, saving the district approximately $500,000 compared to the status quo natural gas system.

Inspired by student activism, Denver’s board of education unanimously passed a climate action policy on Earth Day 2022. Spearheaded by DPS Students for Climate Action, this policy earned the students the EPA President’s Environmental Youth Award and a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing the significance of youth voices in climate advocacy.

Building on this student-driven policy, the sustainability team published its first Climate Action Plan in December 2022, informed by extensive internal and external outreach and prioritizing equity. The plan includes a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory, forming the basis for establishing reduction goals.

Recognizing the need for financial resources to achieve the plan’s goals, the sustainability team conducted a financial impact assessment, evaluating the economic implications of energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies to inform capital planning.

Most recently, the sustainability team underwent a strategic reorganization, moving directly under the district’s chief of staff. This shift enhances alignment with district strategy and grants the team a more influential role in decision-making processes.

Bend-La Pine School District

Situated on the east side of the Cascade mountains, Bend-La Pine Schools, Oregon’s fifth-largest district, encompasses 38 facilities spanning, 3.1 million square feet.

Propelled by student-driven advocacy leading to the passage of a climate resolution in 2019, the district worked collaboratively with all departments and district leaders to create a comprehensive sustainability plan in 2021, which is intended to be updated every five years.

Led by the district sustainability coordinator, this strategic initiative seeks to instill a culture of sustainability and actively engage in the community’s climate mitigation efforts.

Central to the district’s efforts is the SustainBLS program, fostering educational initiatives and student-led actions. Elementary schools lead campaigns such as “Love Food Not Waste,” focusing on food waste reduction and increased composting. The campaign is reducing waste volumes, easing the workload for custodial staff and decreasing dumpster sizes and hauls. Simultaneously, students engage in educational experiences on energy reduction, solar generation and efficiency measures.

The school district amplifies its impact through emission reductions in transportation and building operations. Bend-La Pine piloted the first electric school bus east of the Cascade Mountains, acquired through an innovative electric mobility grant program. The transportation department seeks ways to expand the district fleet and route efficiency.

Leveraging renewable energy opportunities is also a priority, and, in 2021, a 56-megawatt solar array was installed on a new cafeteria roof, contributing an estimated 20 percent of the school’s total electricity usage.

To reduce energy costs, Bend-La Pine is maximizing energy efficiency by investing in improvements to building insulation, windows, lighting and heating and cooling systems. The 2022 bond program includes plans to replace inefficient 70-year-old classrooms at Bend Senior High School. The design surpasses state building codes, aiming for an energy use intensity of 25.

EUI is a commonly used measure of energy use expressed in kBtu/sf/yr. According to the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager dataset, the median EUI for a K-12 school is 48.5 (a lower number is more efficient).

Heathy Investments

As schools grapple with how to respond to community pressures to participate in climate action, understanding the crucial role of sustainability staff and proactive planning will help districts move forward efficiently and with clarity.

Schools nationwide will face climate-related risks and challenges, and they have the opportunity to embrace sustainable practices and data-informed decision-making. Doing so will be an investment in a healthier, more resilient future for students, staff and the planet. n

Anisa Heming is director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C.