Ten leading associations representing state school boards, superintendents, principals, facility planners, architects, parents, and teachers are joining with the U.S. EPA to address energy issues in the nation's K-12 schools in conjunction with EPA's Energy Star Challenge.
Schools across the United States are facing higher energy prices this winter. Currently, the nation's 17,000 K-12 schools spend $1.3 billion on heating bills during the winter months - a cost that may rise by nearly 40% this year, says EPA. This increase alone is equivalent to more than 10,000 teacher salaries.