Back-to-school season is upon us. Teachers and students are preparing to enter a new classroom and in some cases, a zero energy school building. A zero energy school operates on energy that is less than or equal to the onsite renewable energy produced.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the K-12 sector in the United States spends $6 billion annually on energy bills, which is more than textbooks and computers combined. Zero energy design and construction provides an opportunity to decrease spending on operation and maintenance of facilities, which can provide savings for reinvestment in the classroom.

The Department of Energy is working with K-12 schools to create facilities run on renewable energy while providing a comfortable and inspiring learning environment for teachers and students. The DOE’s Zero Energy Schools Accelerator, for example, provides school districts with resources on how to achieve zero energy within the construction budget of a conventional school. The Technical Feasibility Study for Zero Energy K-12 Schools shows how all schools across the country can achieve zero energy with today’s technologies, regardless of climate zone. 

Zero energy design and construction strategies serve as an opportunity for to school districts to promote fiscal responsibility while redirecting saved tax dollars to improvements that benefit students, teachers, and the districts as a whole.

For information on how WGL Energy can help your school become more energy efficient, click here or call us at 1-844-4ASK-WGL.