The 21st Century Green High-Performing School Facilities Act Promotes Greener, Energy-Smart Schools
The 21st Century Green High-Performing School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187), recently passed by the House Education and Labor Committee, will fund a new generation of energy-efficient, high-performance schools that cost less to operate and provide healthy learning environments for students, faculty and staff.
On Wednesday, May 6, the House Education and Labor Committee passed by a vote of 31 -14 the 21st Century Green High-Performing School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187). Introduced by Congressman Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), the bill authorizes a total of $6.4 billion in fiscal year 2010 (as well as “sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 to 2015”) for use by local educational agencies to modernize, renovate and repair public school facilities.
The bill requires that 50 percent of FY 2010 funds be used for public school modernization, renovation, repairs or construction certified, verified or consistent with green building rating systems such as LEED, ENERGY STAR and Green Globes. Funding for green improvements would gradually increase after 2010, eventually reaching 100 percent in 2015.
While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides states with $9.75 billion not specifically for 'green' improvements, H.R. 2187 ensures substantial funding to improve energy efficiency in public school facilities. Individual state's shares would be proportional to Department of Education funding received by their respective educational agencies during the previous year.
The bill requires states to create voluntary guidelines for high-performing school buildings including like HVAC energy efficiency standards. It also requires that the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency design a best-practices guide for states and local educational agencies. One amendment put forth by Ranking Member McKeon and agreed upon in committee requires agencies to conduct independent, third-party audits to substantiate the need for school repair and modernization.
This legislation represents a major opportunity for energy savings, economic stimulus and improvements to public school systems. Savings yielded from reduced utility costs can in turn fund other programmatic needs. The bill is also expected to create thousands of jobs in construction, auditing and retrofitting. Finally, teachers, students and school staff can work and learn in a healthier, more energy-efficient learning environment, which is believed to improve attendance and productivity.
A similar bill passed through the House last year, but was never taken up by the Senate. If the bill is considered in the Senate this year, the Alliance would like to see the addition of a green school curriculum. Used in conjunction with school district modernization and renovation, this program would offer project-based learning activities to promote energy efficiency education of a new generation of students.
