Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions
K-12 schools in the United States significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to aging infrastructure, inefficient energy practices, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Addressing these issues through decarbonization is not just important—it is becoming a critical initiative aimed at...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Seyit Ahmet Kıray
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/754 |
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| author | Ryan Kmetz Gus Norrbom |
| author_facet | Ryan Kmetz Gus Norrbom |
| author_sort | Ryan Kmetz |
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K-12 schools in the United States significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to aging infrastructure, inefficient energy practices, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Addressing these issues through decarbonization is not just important—it is becoming a critical initiative aimed at reducing environmental impact while simultaneously improving the educational environments we offer our students. This paper examines the current landscape of decarbonization efforts in K-12 schools, focusing on our challenges, opportunities, and emerging best practices. By analyzing existing strategies and policies at the federal, state, and local levels, this paper highlights how these efforts are supported—or, in some cases, hindered—by the frameworks in place. The benefits of decarbonization are clear: improved indoor air quality, enhanced learning conditions, and reduced operational costs, all of which contribute to a healthier and more effective educational environment. This research also delves into successful case studies, showcasing innovative approaches and replicable models in other schools nationwide
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f85ba29d1044b65851e5039e9769d8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2149-214X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Seyit Ahmet Kıray |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f85ba29d1044b65851e5039e9769d8b2025-02-03T22:06:38ZengSeyit Ahmet KırayJournal of Education in Science, Environment and Health2149-214X2025-01-0111110.55549/jeseh.754Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future DirectionsRyan Kmetz0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8184-5002Gus Norrbom1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1102-3622Maryland Energy AdministrationMaryland Energy Administration K-12 schools in the United States significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to aging infrastructure, inefficient energy practices, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Addressing these issues through decarbonization is not just important—it is becoming a critical initiative aimed at reducing environmental impact while simultaneously improving the educational environments we offer our students. This paper examines the current landscape of decarbonization efforts in K-12 schools, focusing on our challenges, opportunities, and emerging best practices. By analyzing existing strategies and policies at the federal, state, and local levels, this paper highlights how these efforts are supported—or, in some cases, hindered—by the frameworks in place. The benefits of decarbonization are clear: improved indoor air quality, enhanced learning conditions, and reduced operational costs, all of which contribute to a healthier and more effective educational environment. This research also delves into successful case studies, showcasing innovative approaches and replicable models in other schools nationwide https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/754DecarbonizationEmissions ReductionK-12 Schools |
| spellingShingle | Ryan Kmetz Gus Norrbom Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health Decarbonization Emissions Reduction K-12 Schools |
| title | Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions |
| title_full | Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions |
| title_short | Decarbonizing K-12 Schools in the United States: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions |
| title_sort | decarbonizing k 12 schools in the united states challenges opportunities and future directions |
| topic | Decarbonization Emissions Reduction K-12 Schools |
| url | https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/754 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ryankmetz decarbonizingk12schoolsintheunitedstateschallengesopportunitiesandfuturedirections AT gusnorrbom decarbonizingk12schoolsintheunitedstateschallengesopportunitiesandfuturedirections |