Sacramento, CA - At the October 5, 2023 Board of Education Meeting, the Sacramento City Unified School Board unanimously approved a resolution to adopt carbon neutral goals and guidelines as part of the district’s Facilities Master Plan. This historic vote is among the first carbon neutral plans passed by a school district in the nation, and the first in Sacramento County.

In 2019, SCUSD partnered with New Building Institute (NBI) and Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) to audit the district-wide energy consumption and establish a baseline to set achievable targets over the next two decades. In the long term, this will not only neutralize the district’s carbon footprint, but also save the district money through energy efficiency. The goals and guidelines apply to capital projects like new construction and major building modernizations as well as maintenance work and retrofits.

By 2030, Sac City Unified aims to drop energy consumption 40% below baseline; by 2040, below 80% of baseline and by 2045, the District will achieve carbon neutrality. Accomplishing this will involve grid harmonization, the use of energy efficient equipment such as LED lighting, leveraging renewable energy like solar and switching to electric vehicles while also electrifying existing gas-powered appliances.

“While our teachers and schools are preparing our students for bright futures, our District is taking bold action to help protect students’ future environment,” Chinua Rhodes, Board President, SCUSD. “To address the impact of climate change, every individual and institution must do their part. I am proud that our District has committed to an accelerated transition to carbon neutrality.”

“At Sac City Unified, we care about our students, staff and community, and setting these goals and guidelines is a step toward building a brighter future for all of us,” Lisa Allen, Interim Superintendent, SCUSD. “However, 2045 is not the goal for us, it’s a deadline. The goal for our staff is to accomplish carbon neutrality in our district as soon as possible.”

SCUSD’s Facilities Master Plan and Equity Index was designed to intentionally interrupt the status quo. By prioritizing projects using the equity index, historically underserved neighborhoods and students are receiving an equitable share of capital project bond funds for the first time. This work has already taken shape through many projects happening in our district, including the rebuilding of Oak Ridge, Edward Kemble, and Nicholas Elementaries and Cesar Chavez Middle Intermediate. All of these campuses were designed with a focus on energy efficiency and environmental conservation. In December, Sac City Unified will receive the California School Board Association’s Golden Bell Award for Equity and Access for its Facilities Plan Equity Index.

Reasons the SCUSD Board of Education moved this initiative forward included:

• Carbon neutral schools are energy and cost efficient, while natural gas prices are volatile.
• Climate change identified as a threat to the health of our planet and all living things.
• The understanding that the choices we make now to address climate change are critical to minimize its impact.