Greener Grounds

As Minnesota’s K-12 students head back to school this fall, many of them are doing so in districts that are prioritizing sustainability in bold new ways. From electric buses to energy-saving technology, Minnesota schools are making notable progress in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

In Red Lake, some students are riding to school on brand-new electric buses, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, which allotted the Red Lake School District $790,000 to purchase two electric buses as a trial that could lead to more e-buses. 

Red Lake Superintendent Tim Lutz says students in the district, many of whom are underserved, deserve the latest technology like any other student demographic. “Why not be cutting edge and give the kids something to feel proud about?” he says.

In Eden Prairie, students are seeing innovations in their schools’ energy efficiency and water use. In 2023, Eden Prairie’s school board approved funding to reduce water use with improved plumbing fixtures and to cut electricity use by switching light fixtures to LEDs. The schools have also invested in solar gardens, installed solar arrays, and built wells that allow them to use rainwater to irrigate grass fields. These changes reduced their emissions by 15 percent in 2021 and saved the schools $480,000, which was reallocated to students’ education.

Kyle Fisher, the district’s facilities, safety, and grounds director, says money spent on utilities “is now going to support our students in a more meaningful and purposeful way.”

St. Paul schools are also taking steps toward sustainability. Last year, students at Johnson High School on St. Paul’s East Side enjoyed air conditioning for the first time—and yet the school’s total energy usage was down. This was because the school was cooled with air pulled from deep underground using a $4 million geothermal system that also helps to heat the school in winter. The entire $18.8 million project also modernized heating and ventilation systems and updated lighting throughout the building.

With the upgrades come opportunities to learn about renewable energy and foster a safer space for students.

“As a school district in an urban area, for black and brown kids, that’s important because our urban school districts are the ones that tend to have older buildings and don’t get the levies and things like that to be able to do these things,” says Johnson High School principal Jamil Payton.

With all these advanced systems and practices, education leaders at forward-thinking K-12 schools see the significance of teaching their students about protecting the environment.

“These are future leaders,” says Eden Prairie Superintendent Josh Swanson. “These are our stewards of our world.”