The U. S. Department of Energy filed a request for information for a $500 million grant program to implement energy efficiency upgrades in public schools.
According to an April 4 DOE news release, the program, which is part of the new Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, would help establish a cleaner and healthier school environment for the nation's approximate three million teachers and 50 million students.
“Children should be able to learn and grow in environments that are not plagued with poor insulation and ventilation, leaky roofs or poor heating and cooling,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm stated in the release. “President Biden fought for these funds to give schools and their communities the resources they need to improve student and teacher health and cut energy costs, allowing districts to focus more resources on student learning.”
Additionally, the news release notes numerous schools in the U.S. require energy-saving upgrades, as energy consumption is the second-largest operating expenditure for schools.
Under the program, public school buildings will be eligible for energy upgrades aimed at lowering school energy expenditures. These improvements include improved air conditioning, heating, air filtration and hot water heating systems, along with new lighting systems.
The DOE also reports grant funds from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act would facilitate additional enhancements such as the implementation of renewable energy technology.
