P-12 Schools Initiative

The P-12 Schools Initiative encourages New York’s schools that serve students between prekindergarten and grade 12 to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions – the leading contributor to climate change. Working with NYSERDA, P-12 schools can reduce their emissions and energy use to create healthier learning environments and model sustainability for the next generation.

This initiative promotes clean energy efforts by educating, guiding, and assisting schools that implement clean energy projects and commit to sustainability-focused principles at their facilities and in the classroom. The NYSERDA programs below can be leveraged to help schools integrate energy efficiency, clean energy, and clean transportation into their operations.

Clean Green Schools Initiative

On Earth Day, Governor Hochul announced NYSERDA’s Clean Green Schools Initiative , which provides funding to help public under-resourced schools invest in infrastructure improvements to become healthier, more productive learning environments. The program provides funding for the planning and implementation of projects that reduce energy use and decarbonize building operations, such as:

• Completing energy studies
• Hiring an on-site energy manager
• Developing comprehensive plans for energy reduction, decarbonization, and indoor air quality
• Retrofitting buildings to advance decarbonization or electrification-readiness
• Converting to clean heating and cooling technologies, such as heat pumps

Schools participating in the program may also receive funding to support eligible clean energy educational activities for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.

Learn more about the P-12 Clean Green Schools Initiative

Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program

NYSERDA’s FlexTech program provides 75% cost-share funding for P-12 schools to complete an energy study that helps evaluate opportunities to reduce school energy loads and incorporate clean energy into capital planning. This assistance is available to schools that pay into the electric System Benefits Charge (SBC) and are not designated as a public under-resourced school.

Learn more about the FlexTech program

Building Operations and Maintenance Training

Schools can access NYSERDA’s Building Operations and Maintenance Workforce Development and Training Program to get their district up to speed on managing clean energy systems and energy efficiency for healthier learning environments. If your school district has lower energy expenditures than $1 million annually, you can partner with other districts with comparable needs to apply for the training program.

Learn more about building operation and maintenance training

Electric School Buses

All new school bus purchases must be zero-emission starting in 2027, and New York’s school bus fleet will be fully electric by 2035. Funding is available through several programs to support the transition to an all-electric bus fleet.

Learn more about electric school buses

Solar

Schools can leverage performance-based incentives through NYSERDA to install grid-connected solar panels, which lower energy costs while generating clean, local power. P-12 schools are eligible under NY-Sun’s commercial program.

Learn more about solar for schools

Find Out More

Explore other NYSERDA programs for P-12 schools to improve their learning environments and manage energy use.

Sign up for updates on NYSERDA’s P-12 Schools Initiative or submit a request to receive NYSERDA’s assistance with navigating the program(s) best for your school.