Massachusetts has 1,840 schools with 186 million square feet of building area responsible for an estimated 880,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Decarbonizing schools could go a long way toward meeting the state’s ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gasses, while creating healthier schools for students and workers. The good news is that the Inflation Reduction Act has allocated unlimited funds for the next 10 years for the installation of ground source heat pumps to heat and cool schools; and the Environmental Protection Agency has allocated very large sums of money for the transition from diesel to electric school buses. And now the White House is hosting its first ever Summit for Sustainable School Buildings and Grounds, highlighting the Biden Administration’s commitment to providing communities equitable access to energy efficient, climate resilient, and healthy school facilities that are conducive to learning. Tune in! Students, educators, administrators, parents, and other school stakeholders are invited to tune in April 26 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. (https://youtube.com/live/a-m1pC1rWUE). Sara Ross from Amherst is moderating the 1:35 p.m. panel discussing how the unprecedented level of federal funding and resources for school infrastructure are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and making healthier schools.

Ferd Wulkan

Montague