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of basic repairs and upgrades, including antiquated heating and air conditioning systems, deteriorating rooftops, and outdated electrical grids.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 (DOE) spends approximately $275 million per year on energy for school buildings, and even a modest 25 percent improvement in efficiency will save about $70 million every year.
Retrofitting school buildings for energy efficiency and solar power will also create thousands of good-paying union jobs for our communities.
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.
Mayoral Candidates
Mayoral candidates should commit to making every school building more energy efficient and pledge to shift millions of dollars in school funding from energy use to education use.
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