We can make NYC schools carbon free, healthier and safer, create good union jobs, and save schools millions in energy costs
Many New York City school buildings are in need of basic repairs and upgrades, including antiquated heating and air conditioning systems, deteriorating rooftops, and outdated electrical grids.
School buildings should be healthy and safe for students and staff and be a model for carbon free buildings in the effort to combat climate change.
This is a moment when we can go big—enlisting federal support and building on earlier work to put solar on some New York City schools—and implement energy-efficiency retrofits and solar power across our school buildings. Together, we can make New York City schools a model of green infrastructure, make schools healthier and safer for students and the school community, create good union jobs, and save schools millions in energy costs.
GET THE FACTS
We Can Take on Climate CHANGE
With energy-efficiency retrofits and solar power across New York City schools, we can save more than 75,000 tons of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of planting over 400,000 trees.
We can make schools healthier and safer
At least a quarter of NYC classrooms lack air conditioning entirely, which will worsen the challenges facing the growing number of students attending summer school to make up for lost learning during COVID-19. At the same time, HVAC systems are contributing to extremely hot temperatures in school kitchens and creating unworkable and hazardous conditions for staff.
We must invest in mechanical upgrades and retrofits for energy efficiency that will better the health of our students and staff.
CREATE JOBS AND SAVE SCHOOLS MONEY
The Department of Education spends approximately $275M per year on energy. A 50% improvement in efficiency will save approximately $137M annually, in addition to savings from solar and other renewables on schools and related public facilities, which would reduce energy costs to near zero in the aggregate, resulting in savings of approximately $250M. This is money that can be reinvested in schools.
How to get it done
WASHINGTON
The federal government, as part of its investments in infrastructure, should fund energy audits on all New York City public schools and provide low-cost financing for retrofits.
The City
New York City should commit to fully implementing funding already allocated for solar on schools and energy-efficiency retrofits and make timely, effective use of funds available in the American Rescue Act for school retrofits, ensuring that this work creates good union jobs. See NYC Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ Carbon-Free and Healthy Schools Pledge
Latest
Watch: Representatives of the Campaign Sit Down with US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Grandholm.
Watch: Anil’s Story
Public school student Anil Singh talks about the need for carbon free and healthy schools in New York City.
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