Download the “How Green is Your School? Survey” for facilities directors and school administrators.
Use this Google Doc to plan your outreach strategy to conduct the facilities survey.
Survey Advocacy Goals:
- Find out what, if any, are the current actions being taken on campus to transition our school to 100% renewable energy.
- Find out what the next steps need to be to transition our school to 100% renewable energy.
Think Through:
- What is your message? How can you make it impactful and memorable? A compelling organizing narrative will help you successfully connect with your audience about the transition to renewable energy. Consider the following:
- Oceans Are Rising, So Are We
- The Climate is Changing. So Should We.
- Safer, Cleaner and Greener.
- Wind, Water and Sun = Energy for the Long Run.
- What is your mission statement? Consider the following:
- “[School name] must commit to energy efficiency, transition to 100% clean renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal) and focus on environmental justice and equity by [a specific date].”
- What are you asking for?
- How will your message be modified for principals/admin, facility managers, sustainability directors, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, etc.?
- How do you secure a time for an in-person or virtual meeting with any of the above?
- How do you conduct your in-person or virtual meeting?
Final Reminders for Your Meetings:
- Briefly introduce yourself, the Student Task Force, and our “Human Rights and the Climate Crisis Campaign”, emphasizing the connection between human rights and climate change.
- Thank them for meeting with you and ask a question that will allow them to introduce themselves.
- Explain the vision for 100% renewable energy schools and why it is beneficial.
- Acknowledge the progress (if any) that has already been made and the benefits to the school community.
- Share why you are personally motivated to take part in transitioning your school to 100% renewable energy. You can refer back to your personal “Climate Story”.
- Present deliverable (i.e., sign our petition, commit to supporting our work by scheduling monthly meetings to share updates on progress, etc.)
- Welcome feedback/questions/comments/concerns regarding the issue. If you’re asked something you can’t answer, let them know you’ll find out more and follow up. And then actually follow up!
- If they are supportive of the vision, ask what more they could do to show their support and move the issue forward (i.e., adding this topic to an upcoming school meeting, speaking at an upcoming local event, connecting you with other potential supporters, etc.)
- If they need more convincing, ask what you can do to provide the information that they need (i.e., doing research about an issue of concern, or rallying more community support for the issue, etc.)
- Set up meetings or next steps as needed. Provide contact information for who is following up and clarify expected response time.
- Leave behind supporting materials you want them to have (i.e., copy of slideshow, copy of 100% Clean Energy School Districts Handbook, 100% renewable energy fast fact sheet, etc.)
- Send a thank you email that also recaps the meeting.
How Green is Your School?
Moving Toward 100% Renewable Energy Survey
Date of Interview: ____________________________
Name of Person Interviewed: ______________________________________
Role of Person Interviewed: _______________________________________
Questions (Update questions depending on role of person interviewed):
- We’d like to better understand the energy picture on campus. We want to learn information on current energy sources and uses, costs, etc. at our school.
- How many kilowatt hours (kwh) (electricity) does our school use each year? (Can the district agree to communicate this amount regularly with our school automatically?)
- What is the annual cost of electricity at our school? At what rate does our school pay for electricity and gas?
- Can we get the historical energy data for our school so that we can then see the high and low for ourselves, and also connect it to our school’s population as it changes?
- Is improving energy efficiency and/or sourcing clean energy a current objective for our school? Why or why not? What can students do to support energy efficiency and clean energy?
- What policies and plans are in place and in the pipeline? Have any equipment or facilities recently been upgraded to improve efficiency?
- Are there energy saving behavior education programs in place at our school?
- Has the school district carried out an energy audit at our school? If so, when? May we see it?
- How are decisions about energy made? Who makes them at the district level and at our school?
- What do you see as the main barriers to expanding clean energy solutions at our school? What obstacles to achieving 100% clean energy do you see?
- How can we support you in reducing energy costs at our school?
- How can students get involved in the decision-making process?
- (Optional extras) More specific questions to answer along the way, if not addressed in this meeting:
- What is the district’s current annual energy usage? What is the annual electricity cost for the district?
- Do you have any more information on how the electricity use breaks down specifically? (i.e., heating and cooling, lighting, appliances, etc.)
- What is the energy source for heating units at our school? (i.e., electricity, gas, etc.)
- Do any of the district’s buildings have solar power or other forms of renewable energy?
- What is/are the electric utility/ies serving the school district? Is the district participating in any clean power projects offered by the utility company? Does the district get a special discount on energy usage?