Join us for a discussion about how to help K-12 schools reduce their carbon emissions.
A recording of the webinar is available below.
About this Event
Like all sectors of U.S. society, the K-12 education sector faces substantial challenges addressing its carbon emissions, with hundreds of thousands of buildings, and hundreds of millions of bus trips and billions of meals served each year. Reducing these emissions while meeting the myriad goals of schools will require leveraging the considerable strengths of education professionals and community partners nationwide. Despite many challenges, competing priorities, and limited resources, there are initiatives underway to reduce emissions and save on overall costs and energy use. Anisa Heming (U.S. Green Building Council) moderated a conversation between Andrea Suarez Falken (U.S. Department of Education) and Shannon Oliver (Adams 12 Five Star Schools) exploring the variety of approaches employed by schools – ranging from energy efficiency retrofits to zero-emission buses to supply chain management – as well as the programs that can help schools meet the up-front resource needs often associated with these efforts. The broader role of education in addressing climate change will be discussed in a future conversation.
Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action is a monthly webinar series from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that aims to convene high-level, cross-cutting, nonpartisan conversations about issues relevant to policy action on climate change.
Participant Bios
Andrea Suarez Falken serves as Special Advisor for Infrastructure and Sustainability at the U.S. Department of Education, where she leads matters related to school environment, sustainability, and infrastructure, including overseeing the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award.
Shannon Oliver is the Manager of Energy and Sustainability for Adams 12 Five Star Schools, a public school district serving 36,000 students in the Denver, Colorado metro area. He oversees the district’s sustainability benchmarking, facilities improvement projects, and greenhouse gas inventory and Sustainability Management Plan. He is also the board chair of the Colorado Association for School District Energy Managers.
Anisa Heming is director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. As the Center's director, Anisa provides strategic direction to USGBC’s work in schools and coordinates an organization-wide team to promote environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and sustainability literacy in school systems around the world.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the conversation are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.