CALGreen (Title 24, Part 11)
This page provides the mandatory green building requirements for schools (commissioning, EV-ready, IAQ).
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CALGreen Resources & Guides
This page provieds the tools, code, and checklist for compliance of CALGreen.
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California DSA Academy Learning Portal
To help promote consistency in the knowledge and application of the California Building Standards Code, as well as regulations needed for successful plan review and construction of projects under DSA's jurisdiction, there is a DSA Academy with courses on those topics and more.
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California DSA Sustainable School Facilities
Increase school facility energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with each new construction and modernization, leading to a net zero energy and net zero carbon future for schools.
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California Energy Commission Programs
The programs offered by CEC are wide ranging - but on this page you can find multiple resources for schools including benchmarking support, CalSHAPE, KTEP, and more.
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DSA CALGreen Submittal Checklist (403-C)
This document from DSA provides a checklist for what is mandatory in California school construction.
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DSA Construction Submittal Guidelines
This document from DSA outlines what is required for plans and energy disclosures.
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DSA Project Certification & Procedures
This resource from DSA outlines the process for approval and construction compliance for school construction.
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Title 24, Part 6 – Building Energy Efficiency Standards
This page provides the California state energy code for buildings, including electrification readiness & efficiency requirements.
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Climate Action Pathways for Schools
Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS) partners with school districts to lower operating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance climate literacy. Check out their website to find out more about engaging students through paid internships to address climate change.
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California Department of Education Environmental Education and Literacy
This webpage from the California Department of Education highlights information on current environmental literacy resources and grant opportunities.
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California Environmental Literacy Initiative - Ten Strands
The California Environmental Literacy Initiative is a collective action network that seeks to ensure access to high-quality environment-based learning for all California’s TK–12 students.
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California Zero Emission Vehicle Dashboard
The California Zero Emissions Vehicle Dashboard from HVIP includes resources to drive a zero-emission fleet transition and the ZEV Population Dashboard.
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Electric School Buses Decarbonization Spotlight
This resource spotlights electrifying school bus fleets and incorporating electric vehicle charging infrastructure in schools and districts.
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Zero-Emission School Bus & Infrastructure (ZESBI)
The ZESBI incentive project pairs zero-emission school bus incentives with charging infrastructure incentives, making it easier for California’s local educational agencies to make the switch.
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Building Electrification Interactive Cost Dashboard
This tool allows users to explore estimated costs for new, all-electric equipment in schools to better understand how much to budget for system upgrades and bonds measures to decarbonize schools.
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Building Electrification Technology Roadmap (BETR) for Schools
This report provides K-12 leaders a roadmap and decision-making tools to electrify their school buildings.
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California School Case Studies for Electrification, Decarbonization and Net Zero
This eight-volume series of case study books covers an expansive range of building types to support the adoption of sustainable building design practices in California. The series is completely free to view or download online, and highlights what final results can be achieved with the aid of energy modeling. The schools only volume is at the top of the page but schools case studies are woven throughout the other volumes as well.
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Powering Up Our Schools: A Bright Future with Electrification
This quick-reference cheat sheet helps school district staff clearly and confidently communicate the key benefits of electrification. It includes simple talking points on cost savings, student health, climate impact, and modernizing school infrastructure.
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School Electrification Policy Template
This template provides a clear, customizable framework to help school districts commit to phasing out fossil fuels in their buildings and transportation systems, while aligning with state and local regulations.
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School Electrification Project Requirements Template for California
This template serves as a starting point for establishing formal district documentation regarding electrified facilities, including how to successfully adopt the resolution to declare the district's commitments to healthy, electrified, and resilient facilities.
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School Electrification Resolution Template
This template serves as a starting point for establishing formal district documentation regarding electrified facilities, including how to successfully adopt the resolution to declare the district's commitments to healthy, electrified, and resilient facilities.
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BayREN School Energy Programs
This webpage outlines regional incentives and technical assistance for schools in the Bay Area.
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CalSHAPE Program
This program provides HVAC, ventilation, and plumbing upgrades for schools.
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Grant Writing for Schools
This document includes tips and common data needs for grant applications at the state, federal, and private level. The actionable tips in this document come from districts that have successfully won grants and from reviewers of federal grant programs.
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ECAA Zero-Interest Loan Program
This program offers flexible financing for efficiency, electrification, solar, and storage in schools.
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Investor-Owned Utility School Programs
This webpage is a one stop shop to find the utility rebates, audits, and technical support offered by the California Investor Owned Utilities.
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K–12 Energy Efficiency Program (KTEP)
The KTEP program offers zero-interest loans focused on K–12 schools.
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School Funding Tracker
This funding tracker is iteratively updated with funding and policy updates for school districts in California, including available state and local funding opportunities, policies impacting schools, and federal funding opportunities.
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SoCalREN School District Programs
This webpage provides information on the energy assessments, design support, and incentives offered to Southern California schools.
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All-Electric Kitchens Decarbonization Factsheet
This resource provides information about transitioning to an all-electric kitchen and how to incorporate them into a school planning or district decarbonization roadmap.
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All-Electric Commercial Kitchens Webinar
In this recorded webinar hosted by New Buildings Institute and the California Energy Design Assistance (CEDA) program, experts address these concerns. The session explores how to electrify kitchens of all sizes, from small operations to large institutional facilities. Panelists review electric equipment options, cost considerations, and practical installation strategies.
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Foodservice Technology Center
Foodservice Technology Center (FTC) is a one-of-a-kind demonstration kitchen that showcases the latest energy-efficient commercial foodservice equipment and technologies for your restaurant or foodservice facility. The FTC also offers webinars, technical assistance, and other support for commercial kitchen electrification.
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Climate-Resilient California Schools: A Call to Action
A statewide coalition of nearly 50 experts – including doctors, medical and environmental health researchers, educators, youth and community groups – worked together to explore the challenges of climate change from the perspective of children’s health and education. Our insights and recommendations were published in Climate-Resilient California Schools: A Call to Action.
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Resiliency and Decarbonization Factsheet
This resource presents the core components of resilient buildings and provides a roadmap to improve resiliency in schools, both in new construction projects and retrofitting existing buildings.
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UndauntedK12 California Support Center
This site provides a suite of resources for developing and supporting leaders to drive climate action and policy that advances climate-resilient school infrastructure, supporting district leaders in adapting and preparing for extreme weather, and supporting youth leaders across the state.
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Facility Master Plans Resources
A comprehensive Facilities Master Plan is an essential element of a district’s planning process. The Facilities Master Plan provides the district with information regarding current and future needs for student housing, quality of the existing facilities, and facilities renovation and expansion requirements to support the district’s educational and programmatic goals. A Master Plan also assists a district in identifying funding needs for capital improvement and developing financing options. This webpage contains resources for the Essentials in School Facilities Master Plans for the state of California.
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Office of Public School Construction (OPSC)
This agency administers state school facilities funding. This website can help schools find funding, regulations and other processes as it relates to school construction.
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OPSC School Facility Programs
This page highlights where schools can find state funding for new or modernized school facilities.
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