Response to Request for Information: Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the buildings sector accounts for 31% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.i Public buildings—and schools in particular—have the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to several characteristics including large square footage, age of the facility, and the use of energy intensive equipment. For example, the average age of school buildings was calculated at 55 years old.ii The EPA found that approximately a quarter of energy used in U.S. schools is wasted and facilities in low-income areas are often the least efficient.
We have responded directly to RFI questions around Workforce (Category 4) and have provided additional relevant information on healthy building materials as well as equity levers for implementation of Justice40 that are applicable to school retrofits and that will receive funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).