The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the Phase 1 winners of $4.5 million in Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools (Energy CLASS) Prizes for sustainable schools.
The awards aim to foster sustainable practices and raise awareness about energy conservation in educational institutions nationwide. In total, twenty-five Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have been selected to receive $100,000 cash prizes, enabling them to establish, train, and provide assistance to energy managers in their schools.
“Energy improvements for schools create healthier learning environments for our children and can help them reach their full potential in the classroom,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a DOE news release. “This Training Network is a terrific example [of] how President Biden’s Investing in America is working to support communities around the country by providing training to our nation’s schools that will allow them to cut costs and carbon pollution.”
Upon completion of Phase 2, Phase 1 winners will have the opportunity to receive an additional $50,000 in funding based on their performance. The funds from the Energy CLASS Prize have the potential to make a positive impact on more than 700,000 students in 1,300 schools across 19 states, the release said.
DOE is overseeing the establishment of a Training Network, aimed at providing skill development and coaching for Energy Champions. DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) administers the Energy CLASS Prize. The significant interest in this prize reflects a widespread need within school communities.
"LEAs from 30 states submitted applications, 33% of which included rural schools, and 60% of which included DOE-identified Disadvantaged Communities. All applications included schools that are eligible for Title 1 Schoolwide Programming, and 77% identified as serving populations in which 50% or more students qualified for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch. Submissions represented approximately 1.5 million students and teachers from schools across America," the release said.
Questions about the fund can be emailed by interested parties to energyclassprize@nrel.gov. This is a part of President Biden's overall economic agenda which aims to grow the American economy "from the bottom up and middle out," the press release said.
