USGBC Resource Helps Schools Use COVID-19 Relief Funding

A new resource from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in partnership with UndauntedK12, is helping school districts make informed choices about how they spend COVID-19 relief funding on school facilities.

Relief bills enacted in December and earlier this month provide more than US$176 billion in federal relief funding for K-12 schools. By investing some of those funds in improving school buildings, school districts can improve student equity and health conditions, as well as gain facility benefits and savings. The USGBC resource identifies examples of school facility improvements that align with allowed funding uses and provide long-term benefits. 

“School buildings are deserving of significant investment of COVID-19 relief funds. Moreover, by using COVID-19 relief funds to invest in energy efficiency and resilience, schools can turn a one-time investment of federal funds into a stream of ongoing budget savings,” said Anisa Heming, director of the Center for Green Schools.

“All students, teachers, and families need to feel safe in our schools. These COVID-19 relief funds provide an opportunity to make durable, long-lasting improvements in facilities which will affect the health, safety, and learning of current and future students,” said UndauntedK12 co-founder Jonathan Klein.