Climate: Energy and transportation

The climate benchmark highlights school-based energy conservation and transportation initiatives. We cover how these initiatives can lower greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change. Conserving energy can also help schools save money. Utilities are the largest expense for schools and school districts after salaries. Additionally, about 25% of commute time in King County is spent transporting students to and from school. By working on the climate benchmark, schools and districts can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create healthier communities.

Criteria for recognition

Schools

• Complete a climate mitigation or greenhouse gas reduction project involving students and an adult advisor(s). Contact your program representative for project ideas.
• Conduct a baseline Waste Walk Through (WWT) at least every 2 years.
• Share your climate goals with the rest of your school. Examples could include assemblies, newsletters, announcements, or social media posts.
• Share your climate mitigation efforts and progress with your program representative.

Districts

Districts can find recognition criteria for the Climate: Energy & Transportation Benchmark in the District Benchmark Guide.

Recognition form

Schools

Fill out the School Climate: Energy & Transportation recognition form. You may fill out the form to receive your benchmark badge at any time of year. Contact your program representative if you need assistance filling out the form.

You can complete the recognition form over multiple sessions using the "Save" button. You will be emailed a link that allows you to continue filling out the form. Once the form is complete, select the "Submit" button.

Check out all the schools that were recognized for Climate: Energy & Transportation 2024-25.

Districts

Fill out the District Climate: Energy & Transportation recognition form. Districts may fill out the recognition form and receive the benchmark badge in the spring of each school year.

Climate: Energy and transportation resources and activities

• Running an anti-idling campaign
• Setting up a carpool project
• Classroom energy monitor checklist
• Printable “Turn off lights when leaving room” cards
• Printable “Turn off equipment when not in use” cards
• Energy conservation fact or fiction slides

Interested in learning more? Check out our resource list for more detailed information on this benchmark topic.

Success stories

Green team members at Park Orchard Elementary School in Kent School District installed stickers on every light switch in the school to remind people to turn off the lights. They gave assemblies about saving energy, and the custodian reported that the school saw a reduction in the school's power use over the course of the year!

North Creek High School in the Northshore School District is committed to conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Action Club at the school runs school-wide campaigns about energy usage and sponsors Lights Out teaching days. Science teachers across several disciplines discuss energy conservation and climate change in the curriculum. In one class, students measured the particulate matter and ozone in the air while cars were running in the parking lot. They presented their findings to the school administration and got permission to implement a No-Idle Zone.