Schools are some of our most important buildings. As community hubs, schools aren’t just places where children and young adults come to learn, they are also places for connection, events and community pride. Schools are also often gathering places in emergencies, where families can shelter or find resources.

However, many of Oregon’s aging schools are in varying degrees of disrepair and need critical maintenance upgrades. Most were not designed to withstand the increasingly extreme weather brought on by climate change, making them uncomfortable during extreme heat and cold. Additionally, older, inefficient heating and cooling systems have a hard time keeping up, increasing energy costs for school districts.

Energy-saving projects— like efficient heating and cooling systems, windows, insulation, LED lighting and behavioral changes —can help schools save energy, save money, and create more comfortable environments for students and staff.

This is where Energy Trust of Oregon steps in. By partnering with Energy Trust, school districts are better able to plan and prioritize the energy-saving upgrades and improvements that will have the greatest impact now and in the long term.  From early planning stages to project execution, Energy Trust works closely with districts, providing the resources, incentives and technical expertise to make informed decisions. Whether it’s conducting energy studies or coordinating additional funding from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), Energy Trust ensures that districts can maximize their impact with the available funds. This early support is especially critical for schools with limited resources, allowing them to access key upgrades and see significant savings.

Since 2004, Energy Trust has given public K-12 schools in Oregon more than $34 million to support energy-saving projects at nearly 1,000 school buildings. The result: more than 113 kWh saved annually – enough energy to power more than 10,500 homes for a year. This work has also saved more than 6.3 million therms of gas, or enough to heat 11,800 homes for a year.

“Every dollar that schools save is a dollar that can go right back to the classroom,” said Patrick Urain, Energy Trust senior program manager. “This means more budget for staffing, school supplies, educational programming and classroom technology upgrades. Energy savings can have a direct positive impact on our students’ educational outcomes.”

Here are examples of current and past projects:

• Since the passage of its 2020 bond, Redmond School District has worked with Energy Trust on significant energy upgrades across its schools, including heating and cooling, lighting and water heating improvements. Redmond High School is next in line with a new heating and cooling system. Its current system costs the district $40,000 a month in energy costs. To maximize district-wide funding, Energy Trust provided approximately $270,000 in incentives.
• Liberty High School, one of the Hillsboro School District’s largest and least efficient buildings, welcomed students this fall with a new heating and cooling system and boilers. The result? A more comfortable, energy-efficient environment for students, with zero net cost to the district thanks to incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon and reimbursements from the ODOE Public Purpose program.
• Earlier this year, Cascade School District, a small district outside Salem, completed a relatively simple boiler upgrade that led to huge energy savings. For small or rural districts, who often cope with limited budgets, the incentives and support from Energy Trust can be the key difference in making impactful energy projects possible.
• Medford School District in Southern Oregon has been working with Energy Trust for more than a decade. Over time the district has completed hundreds of energy upgrades, cutting their energy use substantially. Energy Trust provided technical support as well as incentives to make the upgrades more affordable.
• Benson Polytechnic, Portland Public Schools largest school building, as well as Portland’s CTE Focus Option high school, reopened this fall after three years of construction. Key energy upgrades at the 107-year-old high school included energy-efficient windows, historic window retrofit, ceiling fans, roofing, insulation, south facing window shades and PV array including the roof for a new bike shelter. LEED requirements have been an important part of the project with certification underway. Energy Trust provided crucial support in the early planning stages to help Portland Public Schools incorporate energy efficiency from the beginning and help them access additional funding that allowed them to stretch their 2017 and 2020 school construction bonds further.

Through programs like Strategic Energy Management, Energy Trust offers long-term coaching to help districts continuously identify energy efficiency improvements and find ways to engage students and staff around energy savings.  This helps schools sustain and improve their energy savings year after year.

By creating more comfortable, efficient learning environments, districts can not only reduce their environmental impact but also redirect valuable resources back into the classroom, creating a better learning experience for students and teachers. Energy efficiency also helps ensure that Oregon’s schools are prepared to serve their communities for years to come.

Click here to learn more about support for schools or email us at existingbuildings@energytrust.org