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Energy and Sustainability

Our Mission

To conserve, protect and sustain resources to provide healthy and high-performing facilities, bring real-world sustainability challenges and solutions into the classroom, and encourage community engagement to address climate change.

Our Approach

Chicago Public Schools' first climate action plan lays the foundation for how we will do our part to mitigate climate change. We seek to optimize energy savings, meet renewable goals, and reduce carbon emissions by implementing, maintaining, and expanding a variety of sustainability solutions across the district.

 

Commitments

What We Believe

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Conserve

Reducing the amount of energy we consume can help to make our district more efficient and environmentally responsible.

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Protect

Maintaining, implementing and recovering healthy natural environments and delivering long-term equitable solutions will benefit current and future generations.

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Sustain

 Investing in sustainable energy sources to power our district means a cleaner, better future for our students, staff and community.

Climate Action Plan

The 2021-23 CPS Climate Action Plan is a milestone in supporting energy and sustainability efforts throughout the district. It highlights how we will meet the challenges of climate change and identifies how we will do our part to mitigate our impact on the planet. With this plan, we are helping our future leaders understand the importance of addressing the climate crisis, resource depletion, and other inequities in our communities.

View Plan (English) View Plan (Spanish)

Energy plan

Climate Action Plan

The 2021-23 CPS Climate Action Plan is a milestone in supporting energy and sustainability efforts throughout the district. It highlights how we will meet the challenges of climate change and identifies how we will do our part to mitigate our impact on the planet. With this plan, we are helping our future leaders understand the importance of addressing the climate crisis, resource depletion, and other inequities in our communities.

View Plan (English) View Plan (Spanish)

Kids garden

Sustainability Goals

The goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan are ambitious and designed to inspire innovation and continuous improvement. Each goal is supported by a number of activities currently underway or planned throughout the district.

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Case Studies

Discover how energy, sustainability, and conservation efforts are making a difference for Chicago Public Schools.

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 Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change

Our role in a global effort

Chicago Climate Action Plan

CPS supports the Climate Action Plan drafted by the city of Chicago, which has joined 96 cities around the world in setting ambitious goals to protect and strengthen communities, locally and globally.

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City of Chicago

Better Buildings Initiative

CPS has partnered with the Department of Energy on its Better Buildings Initiative to support energy efficiency by accelerating investment and sharing successful best practices.

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Building with trees

Building Better School Infrastructure

CPS is participating in the the Biden-⁠Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, a White House initiative that seeks to upgrade public schools with modern, clean, energy efficient facilities and transportation.

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White House

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Chicago Public Schools Energy and Sustainability Newsletter to get the latest updates about climate projects across the district.

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Additional Resources

Energy Accomplishments at CPS Infographic
ENGLISH | SPANISH

CPS Commercial Composting & Recycling Program Flyer
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Contact

For more information about Energy and Sustainability at CPS, contact Energy and Sustainability Staff, at energy@cps.edu.