Buildings account for two-thirds of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from oil and gas-fired boilers. To date, 80% of the City’s total progress towards renewable energy in public buildings has involved school buildings.

Decarbonizing schools moves towards achieving city’s stated emission goals, and puts a focus on our kids, who are inheriting the future climate, and will be empowered to make an impact to alter the path we are on.

Around the country school districts are rapidly switching to clean energy, and there are billions of federal Inflation Reduction Act dollars in grants and tax credits newly available to help them do that.

NEW YORK CITY IS BEHIND THE TIMES AND LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE.

This Inflation Reduction Act money has an expiration date–as early as March 2024 for some grants. The federal Department of Energy awarded $178 million to 24 districts this past summer for HVAC, lighting, and building envelope upgrades, with a second round of funding to come this spring.

Dallas schools have switched to 100 percent renewable energy, which saves the district $1.5 million a year.

NEW YORK CITY HAS JUST 68 SCHOOLS WITH SOLAR OUT OF 1300 SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

We, the parents of district 14, are joining the citywide Green, Healthy Schools Campaign, and calling for the Mayor to:

Electrify and upgrade 500 public school buildings by 2030, prioritizing schools in environmental justice communities;

Commit NYC’s DOE to become a zero emissions school district by 2040;

Apply for federal IRA funds to decarbonize our schools;

--With detailed plans, timelines, and commitments, not promises.