Efficient and Healthy Schools Portal

The Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools portal consolidates federal technical assistance, recognition programs, and funding pathways that help K-12 districts cut energy costs while improving indoor air quality and resilience. Central features include the Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign, where districts receive one-on-one coaching to scope projects—HVAC right-sizing, advanced controls, envelope upgrades, filtration retrofits—and can earn national awards for completed or planned measures. Case studies from Colorado, Georgia and Pennsylvania quantify savings (30–60% energy use reductions) and report parallel gains in ventilation and thermal comfort. A roadmap graphic walks facility teams through five steps: Benchmark & Assess, Plan, Fund, Implement, and Monitor. Linked tools cover ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation calculators, FEMA resilience grants and DOE’s Renew America’s Schools $500 million rebate program. The site spotlights strategies that dovetail health with decarbonization—e.g., installing variable-speed heat-pump systems sized to deliver 4–6 air changes per hour, integrating MERV-13 filters, and adding demand-controlled ventilation to balance IAQ and load. By framing efficiency, IAQ and climate resilience together, the hub helps superintendents, business officers and facility managers justify projects, secure grants and track performance over time.