BOISE, Idaho — Fifteen Boise School District facilities are setting the standard for energy management, earning national recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Energy efficiency is becoming a cornerstone in the Boise School District with its greater goal to be environmentally responsible and resource efficient.
The fifteen facilities achieved the DOE’s 2024 designation as “50001 Ready”.
The DOE describes this designation as “a clear indicator that your organization is a leader in energy management.”
BSD is committed to maintaining clean energy by reducing energy consumption and lessening its carbon footprint.
The facilities achieved this milestone by collaborating with Idaho Power and Strategic Energy Group (SEG), which helped BSD create recycling programs and power-down challenges while tracking electricity, gas, and water usage.
Boise School District Sustainability Supervisor Ali Ward said, "It’s actually a 25-step plan and process for each site that you attest to."
"We also are doing that with public dollars, and so it's important for us to be as efficient as possible," she told KTVB Wednesday.
Each school has students that participate in the initiative through designated Green Teams.
These teams propose sustainable projects, from waste diversion to environmental stewardship and beyond.
The district now boasts 15 schools with 50001 Ready designations, with three being newly designated in 2024, and the rest being recognized multiple years.
BSD says it has an annual goal of reaching 5% in energy savings, and that last year they averaged 6.8% across their 24 facilities working on the energy initiative with Idaho Power.
Their efforts are part of a larger movement in the community, with students leading many conservation projects and discussions.
Idaho Power Senior Engineer Chris Pollow says past student participants have shown such dedication, and that some have gone on to advocate at City Council meetings about their mission.
“It’s extremely fulfilling,” he said.
Alison Ward agreed that students’ commitment to being leaders in energy management makes the process that much better.
“They are so engaged, they are so eager to make a difference, and so we really have just been building a pathway for them to take action in their school communities, take that knowledge home, into their neighborhoods, into their futures, and it's and their eagerness keeps us all going,” Ward said.
As the district continues to expand its sustainability goals, officials hope the progress made here can serve as a model for other schools and organizations across Idaho.
As the district has had such success in middle schools and high schools, they hope to reach 50001 Ready designations at elementary schools in BSD soon.
Pollow says any school in Idaho can take the steps to be designated 50001 Ready.
He said, schools interested in participating can reach out to him or a local Idaho Power representative.