DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Introduction
A stable climate is needed for every learner to thrive.
Yet, the impacts of human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels are here and now affecting everyone. The global average temperature has increased 1.2°C above the average from 1850 to 1900. Alarms are ringing as climate scientists have maintained we must keep global warming below 1.5°C to avoid the most destructive effects of climate change (source: World Meteorological Organization, IPCC).
It’s late — but it’s not too late — to take action and make change.
Scientists agree there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable future, and the action we take and decisions we make this decade are critical to limiting the harshest and most devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos. While we are making progress and there’s already momentum for climate action at the local and national levels, we must do more — and do it faster.
DPS students requested we take urgent climate action, so we must meet the moment with bold action, innovation and accountability — not baby steps. While there are budgetary challenges to reaching these goals, we are committed to doing our best, taking advantage of external funding, and not fearing failure. Innovation and culture change require an atmosphere where it is expected that we push the envelope, fail forward, celebrate successes, and get better at getting better. We must support our vision by continuing to give voice and agency to students, inspiring hope, and correcting inequity through intentional action and investment.
Human-caused climate change is both a threat and an opportunity, and we will use this opportunity to avoid loss and suffering and build a healthier, brighter, and more just world.
The future is in our hands, and we get to decide our fate. We have the knowledge, solutions, agency, and efficacy to rise to the occasion. We can be the first generation to create a sustainable future with a high quality of life for all. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to see where we’ll go. We will continue to focus narrowly and simply on implementing solutions.
Sustainability
It takes all of us for climate action to be successful, and it will take all of DPS for the Climate Action Plan goals to be achieved.
So whether you're a chef, poet, or scientist, there is a role for you in climate action. Read on and learn about all we can do, together.
There’s
no time to waste, because later is too late.
—
About this Report
The intent of this report is to be clear, concise, and transparent on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve faced in the first year of work toward the goals in the Climate Action Plan.
The Sustainability Team published DPS’ first-ever Climate Action Plan in December 2022, and the plan has many five-year goals to be completed by 2028. And while goals are important, action is what matters now.
That means a DPS student entering kindergarten in the 2022-23 school year will have entered when the Climate Action Plan was published and will be a fifth grader when the five-year goals are complete. As the plan is implemented year after year, students will have an increasingly different experience than those who came before them.
Yale Climate Connections stated: “Today’s students will spend the rest of their lives on a hotter planet, mainly owing to the actions — and inactions — of their elders.”
DPS shall be a national leader in establishing an organizational culture anchored in sustainability, climate action, and environmental justice in both the conservation of natural resources and minimization of the carbon footprint of DPS’ practices. -DPS Ends Statement 1.6
This figure is adapted from the IPCC’s 2023 Synthesis Report, and it shows how different generations of DPS graduates will experience the effects of a hotter world, and how that experience will be affected by the climate action we take in the near-term. This shows the importance of acting with urgency to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
2024 Sustainability Recommendations in the 2024 Bond Package Proposal
The Sustainability Team participated in the 2024 Community Planning and Advisory Committee (CPAC), which played a critical role in creating a bond package proposal that will be presented to Denver voters in November 2024.
The package proposal development was a community-driven process, and we did our due diligence to incorporate proposals that would move the needle on climate action.
The following projects are proposed and would directly support the Climate Action Plan goals if Denver voters approve the bond.
Climate Action Plan items in the 2024 bond package proposal include:
Goal Proposed Package Items Proposed $
Saves $5.9 million ELECTRIFICATION
BUILDING ENVELOPE
As part of the $240 million air conditioning package, sustainability efforts led to 20 schools receiving funds for climate-conscious air conditioning and still saved $5.9 million over the DPS-status-quo cooling design. This would make major progress toward the electrification goal.
This includes $337,000 toward a geothermal study to evaluate the feasibility of ground source heat pumps, which are incentivized by the Inflation Reduction Act and could result in 25% to 45% of construction costs going back to DPS, thereby extending bond dollars.
DPS will still research the cost-effectiveness of installing climate-conscious air conditioning at the remaining nine schools.
A building envelope commissioning study would provide a cost estimate to improve or repair envelopes of a few existing DPS buildings.
$200,000
$6.3 million RENEWABLES
Funding would expand rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on eligible roofs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and utility costs. This would fund enough solar to cover about one-third of the gap estimated to remain for the 2028 Renewables goal after the cleaning of the electric grid is taken into account.
$2.5 million ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Fault Detection Diagnostics would be expanded districtwide for DPS’s building automation system, which will diagnose HVAC equipment issues and provide energy savings estimates that would result from repairs.
$2.5 million WATER CONSERVATION
Smart irrigation controls would be expanded districtwide, which will allow for centralized and digital control of irrigation systems and more data to inform water management.
$23 million WATER CONSERVATION
Several irrigated athletic fields would be converted to artificial turf, and this conversion is estimated to save about 15 million gallons of water annually.
Proposed sustainability projects that were not funded, or were not fully funded, by the CPAC committee, include $5 million for SMART building and an additional $10.6 million for solar arrays. These were the funding amounts staff thought would fully meet the Renewables and SMART Buildings goals in the Climate Action Plan.
Built Environment
ELECTRIFICATION GOAL:
Electrify 80% of the heating load for 10 buildings
The electrification goal relies on installing heat pumps in schools to provide electrified heating instead of using natural gas for heating.
Additionally, heat pumps are about three times more energy efficient at heating than their natural gas boiler counterparts. Therefore heat pumps will also positively affect the Energy Management goal.
Progress
DPS builds its first all-electric school
DPS’ new Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy FNE (RASA) is an all-electric school. The heating and kitchen equipment, which is traditionally served with natural gas, will run on electricity. This is a big win for climate action because electricity can be, and increasingly is, provided by renewable sources. In 2023, the electricity serving our schools was 44.2% renewable. Additionally, going all-electric saved DPS about $500,000 in upfront costs compared to building with natural gas infrastructure.
Installing heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling
Last summer, DPS installed heat pumps at Denison Montessori as part of the 2020 Bond air conditioning project. This added efficient electric heating capacity to the building. Combined with the existing ground-source heat pump system serving the library, Denison is primarily served by heat pumps. While the first winter didn’t reduce natural gas use as much as expected, we’re updating our controls to limit reliance on the existing natural gas boiler system.
The Financial Impact Assessment that was commissioned by the Sustainability Team showed that adding heat pumps did not have a substantial impact on the construction budget.
More schools will be receiving heat pumps in summer 2024 as part of the 2020 Bond.
Tubular skylights shine through the mass timber roof to daylight the commons area at RASA.
Heat pumps being installed at Denison Montessori
DESIGN STANDARDS GOAL:
Students advocate for heat pumps
Earth Rangers, the middle school extension of DPS Students for Climate Action, used their voices to lobby for “eco-groovy” heat pumps to be in DPS’ next bond package.
Require Sustainable Design Guidelines to be integrated into all capital improvement decisions
Making sustainability foundational
Staff drafted standards for electric vehicle infrastructure and purchasing guidelines for electric vehicles, and these standards will go for approval next year.
Staff also worked with the Planning, Design & Construction department to implement solar photovoltaic (PV) standards for construction and commissioning.
Staff also incorporated sustainability language into construction contract documents, specifically into American Institute of Architects contract documents.
This will help ensure sustainable design measures are incorporated prior to design development.
Staff will continue to prioritize selecting design standards for improvement that will have the largest impact for climate action, as there are many design standards that could be updated.
SMART BUILDINGS GOAL:
Implement one fully SMART building, perform a cost-benefit analysis, and create a funding plan for additional SMART buildings
A SMART building collects data from multiple systems and devices and shares that information so that action can be taken to improve business process, operational efficiency, sustainability, decarbonization, health and occupant safety and user experience.
An effective way to measure the “SMART-ness” of a building is to measure the buildings’ ability to support interoperability and sustain itself through technology adoption and evolution.
RENEWABLES GOAL:
65% of electricity supplied to DPS is renewable
Xcel Energy’s Colorado Certified Renewable Percentage for 2023 was 44.2%. That is the percentage of electricity supplied to DPS that is renewable.
From July 2023 through June 2024, the solar arrays at 46 DPS sites produced over 9,680 MWh of clean electricity. However, because DPS sells the renewable energy credits (RECs) from its solar arrays, DPS cannot count this solar production toward its Renewables goal.
Defining SMART
Solar carport installed at Northeast Early College
DPS and the City and County of Denver partnered to install a 309 kW solar carport and two charging stations at Northeast Early College. The solar carport will provide multiple benefits to the community including producing clean energy, donating bill credits to DPS families who need relief on their energy bills and providing shade. This solar carport is fully funded by the City and County of Denver's Climate Protection Fund and supports the city’s renewable energy goals while also addressing DPS’s environmental justice goals.
Bringing solar into view
DPS and the City and County of Denver partnered to create engaging outdoor learning spaces using visible solar panels as both a teaching tool and shade structure. Solar canopies were installed at three schools: Manual High, Polaris Elementary and Thomas Jefferson High School.
The projects were funded by Denver’s Climate Protection Fund and federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. School Determined Funds also helped fund Thomas Jefferson's solar canopy. The canopies will also reduce DPS’ utility costs.
GROUNDS GOAL:
Create Sustainable Landscape Standard & Implementation Plan
Due to Denver’s unique climate and altitude, successful landscape conversion projects have been rare in our region. As DPS works to be a leader in sustainable landscapes, we recognize our role in educating our community on the importance of aesthetic and safe landscapes aligning with our hydrologic reality.
Staff researched how water conservation and conversion of underutilized turf to dryland landscapes can save resources, costs and maintenance when implemented correctly. Staff also drafted language for a request for proposal for hiring a contractor to work on this plan.
Solar Outdoor Learning canopy at Manual High
Transportation
YELLOW FLEET GOAL:
12% of buses are zero "tailpipe" emissions
Electric buses coming to town
DPS was awarded funding from the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program to purchase 20 electric school buses and 12 charging stations (for a total of 24 charging ports).
Each electric bus is estimated to have an 82% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions annually compared to its gas-powered alternative. With these 20 electric buses, DPS is estimated to save 42 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually (source: Xcel Energy’s Fleet Electrification Advisory Program).
Progress
Upon receiving the grant funding and purchasing these buses, DPS will have 8% of buses be zero “tailpipe” emissions. The goal is to have 12% of buses be zero "tailpipe" emissions, so 11 more electric buses need to be acquired by 2028 to meet the goal.
Additionally, DPS installed one DC fast charger this year and now has a total of four charging ports for yellow fleet.
Governor Polis speaks at East High about the social, environmental, and financial benefits of electric buses.
WHITE FLEET GOAL:
7% of vehicles are zero "tailpipe" emissions
Staff worked with Xcel Energy’s Fleet Electrification Advisory Program (FEAP) to identify vehicles that are best suited for electrification and to identify the best charging locations across the district for white fleet.
IT’S ELECTRIC
The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team purchased an electric van to deliver food to DPS families. This is the first electric vehicle in DPS' white fleet, and a big thank you to the FACE Team for being a leader in this goal.
Progress
COMMUTER GOAL:
Create an incentive program to increase alternative modes of transportation to DPS locations
Staff discussed alternative transportation options, EV charging opportunities, and potential bike/roll-to-work incentives with a stakeholder group of DPS staff to better understand staff interests and where to prioritize future commuter pilot programs.
While pilot programs will likely be implemented at a specific facility or with a specific commuter group, staff are working to make sure the post-pilot strategies for this goal are implemented equitably across the district for both student and staff commutes.
DPS also installed four EV charging stations available to the DPS community; two at Northeast Early College, funded by a grant from the City and County of Denver, and two at the new Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy FNE, funded by the 2020 Bond construction budget and rebates.
CELEBRATING CYCLING
Lincoln Elementary hosted a bike rodeo with free bike repairs, a bike obstacle course, helmet decorating and more to help the community feel more confident and empowered about bike riding.
Resource Management
ENERGY MANAGEMENT GOAL:
Reduce energy (MMBtu) consumption by 15% from 2021 baseline
Progress
From July 2023 - June 2024, DPS used over 103,574,000 kWh of electricity and over 6,276,000 therms of natural gas. This combines to a total energy use of 981,000 MMBtu, which is 9% lower than the 2021 baseline for the goal.
The median energy use intensity (EUI) of all DPS buildings was 59. The EUI target for both K-12 schools and offices in the Energize Denver benchmarking program is 48. This means there is still work to do to increase the energy efficiency of DPS buildings.
DPS has continued the use of fault detection diagnostics, building automation system alarms, sequencing, scheduling, and real-time energy monitors (e-gauges), and more to actively manage the energy use in its buildings.
DPS continued the fault detection diagnostics pilot at 14 schools and realized cost savings of $35,000 from corrective measures to mechanical systems. There was an opportunity to realize an additional $150,000 in energy savings at the pilot sites.
The energy management goal is anticipated to be difficult to achieve because DPS will be adding air conditioning to schools that don’t have it, which increases both electricity use (kWh) and electricity demand (kW). An internal analysis revealed that electricity use increases around 25% on average when schools receive air conditioning. DPS intends to install “climate-conscious” air conditioning using heat pumps when economically feasible to provide cooling and energy-efficient electrified heating.
This graph shows DPS’ energy use relative to the Energy Management goal.
This graph shows that when normalizing for winter weather, DPS used fewer therms of natural gas per heating degree day in winter in fiscal year 2024 than it did in the winter of fiscal year 2021, the goal’s baseline year.
WATER CONSERVATION GOAL:
Reduce water consumption by 15% from 2021 baseline
From July 2023 to June 2024, DPS used 550 million gallons of water. For context, this is roughly equivalent to the volume of water in three Sloan Lakes. When adjusting for the hot and dry weather during the watering months, the water use is lowered to an estimated 530 million gallons. Both the actual use and weather-adjusted use are higher than the water use baseline of 484 million gallons.
Progress
DPS uses about 80% of its water outdoors to maintain healthy, safe and attractive landscapes for students and the community. DPS uses about 20% of its water indoors through fixtures like toilets, urinals, sinks and dishwashers.
DPS currently has 54 smart irrigation controls at 38 sites, and expanding smart irrigation controls districtwide was put in the 2024 bond package proposal.
Students transform school grounds
Students in the Global Leadership class at DSST: Cedar led a landscape transformation project at their school to save water. They replaced a section of the site’s thirsty and underutilized grass with water-wise and pollinator-friendly native plants.
WASTE DIVERSION GOAL:
Ensure landfill diversion rate is at least 25%
DPS’ waste diversion rate for the last year is estimated to be 16%¹. This number is the estimated weight of recycling and compost divided by the estimated weight of trash, recycling and compost. It does not include additional waste streams such as electronic waste and scrap metal recycling.
Staff focused on understanding our current state of waste production and diversion and strategizing with the City and County of Denver toward increasing waste diversion.
Progress
While this goal will be difficult to achieve because it relies heavily on behavior change among all students and staff, it is one that students can have a direct impact on with their day-to-day actions.
Future work toward this goal will revolve around reducing food waste and increasing compost programming.
¹DPS does not receive weight-based data for its waste hauling services, and this makes determining an accurate districtwide waste diversion percentage difficult. For this year’s diversion rate determination, DPS relied on an analysis performed by its waste hauler. The analysis was based on actual weight data taken in the spring semester from a sample of DPS sites for each waste stream, and extrapolated districtwide. DPS does receive data on the number of times a trash, recycle, or compost container was “tipped” into a waste hauling truck. However, this data does not take into account how full a container was.
TAKE CLIMATE ACTION BY KEEPING FOOD OUT OF THE LANDFILL
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps much more heat than carbon dioxide and is responsible for around 30% of the current rise in global temperature since the Industrial Revolution (sources: U.S. EPA, Environmental Defense Fund). This is why we need to reduce the emission of methane into the atmosphere.
One way methane is released into the atmosphere is when food waste decays in landfills. Therefore, when we keep food out of the landfill, we reduce methane emissions.
The good news is that the DPS community has control over this action, so we are calling on the community to keep food waste out of the landfill by: reducing food waste overall, creating “share tables” for unwanted foods, and composting food waste instead of landfilling it. Reach out to the Sustainability Team for help with any of these actions.
CREATING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
DPS developed new signage for recycling, compost and landfill bins to better communicate how to sort materials into the correct bins. The signage is visual and uses both English and Spanish. The new signage was piloted in six schools.
DPS also developed two new educational videos about how to set up a successful compost program and how to perform a cafeteria waste audit.
Printing data provides transparency
DPS switched to new printing software that provides valuable data insights about printing usage across the district. In this year, DPS printed 67 million sheets of paper, which is equivalent to 8,100 trees. The Sustainability Team did an outreach campaign to increase awareness and reduce printing use among the district’s four main administrative buildings.
Promoting Reuse and Reading
out of the landfill by reselling, donating, or responsibly recycling them. In the 2022-23 school year, DPS donated over 70,000 pounds of outdated books to DreamBooks. Plus, DreamBooks offers DPS teachers and staff a $50 credit per month at their used bookstore in the Northeast Park Hill neighborhood.
SOURCING GOAL:
SPARTA-FILL promotes reuse and builds skills
Students in the Business Entrepreneurship class at Thomas Jefferson High School run SPARTA-FILL, a soap refill shop for the community. This program promotes reducing and reusing, keeping materials out of the landfill and in circulation, all while teaching students valuable business skills.
Embed sustainable practices practices in all procurement policies including "end of life planning"
Staff worked to expand their knowledge on this subject by attending relevant trainings and reaching out to other school districts to understand their sustainable procurement practices.
Wellness
GARDENS GOAL:
100 gardens are active and produce 100 pounds or more of harvest per year
Progress
GARDENS: Growing people and plants
Many students feel and learn well in engaging environments that allow them to move and experiment. At their best, school gardens are sanctuaries of learning and social-emotional health, outdoor classrooms, sources of food production, and opportunities to connect with nature.
DPS has over 130 school garden sites and a goal of 100 active sites. “Active” means that the garden is used during the summer months and at least 100 pounds of produce grown goes to the school cafeteria or other food distribution centers. Last year, we learned of several active sites and activated three sites that had not been used for several years.
We are grateful for our garden partnerships with community organizations including: Denver Urban Gardens, SustainEd Farms, Sprout City Farms, Jovial Concepts, and Colorado Master Gardeners.
During the 2023 harvest, Denver Urban Gardens provided over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce, and SustainEd Farms over 3,000 pounds of pounds, to local food security organizations.
SustainEd Farms grew 3,027 pounds of produce at 24 DPS schools and provided over 1,000 hours of direct programming supporting 5,000 unique students in 20 DPS schools.
Sprout City Farms runs the farm at Denver Green School Southeast. In summer 2023, they grew 6,577 pounds of produce, of which 200 pounds went to the school cafeteria and 900 pounds went to the food pantry.
Food forests are designed food-producing mini-ecosystems. Two new food forest installations were installed at Robert F. STEAM Academy and Bradley International School in partnership with Denver Urban Gardens, and we saw our first berries at our pilot sites at Samuels Elementary and Fairmont Elementary. We eagerly await fruit and nuts in the years to come in each of our seven food forest sites.
Going soil-less at Bruce Randolph
Students at Bruce Randolph grow vegetables and herbs for the community at the district’s first hydroponic farm. The farm is run in partnership with Teens for Food Justice and SustainEd Farms, produces over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, and provides students skills in urban agriculture.
The outdoor garden partnered with Sustained Farms, and produce was distributed at the pay-what-you-can Huerta Urbana farmer’s market.
We're not just planting seeds, we're planting hope and opportunity - Lake Knight Radio, Lake Middle School
GREENHOUSES GOAL:
50% reduction in tomatoes purchased commercially to be produced by the Glenbrook Greenhouse
From July 2023 to June 2024, Glenbrook Greenhouse harvested nearly 21,000 pounds of tomatoes. This is a five-fold increase from the previous fiscal year.
From July through April, nearly 80,000 pounds of tomatoes were purchased for school meals. Extrapolating this number for the full fiscal year, 96,000 pounds of tomatoes were estimated to be purchased for the year.
In fiscal year 2023, 0.018 pounds of tomatoes were purchased per student lunch. In fiscal year 2024, 0.014 pounds of tomatoes were purchased per student lunch. This is a reduction of 23% from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.
This analysis will be updated when full fiscal year purchase data becomes available.
NUTRITION SERVICES GOAL:
Develop a comprehensive nutrition education plan to be used at 100% of schools for all grade levels
A staff lead was determined for this goal, and internal and external stakeholders were identified. Work will continue to determine the current state of nutritional programming across the district.
Engagement + Environmental Justice
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EVENTS GOAL:
1 districtwide sustainability event per quarter
Second Annual DPS Climate Summit spotlights student activism
Over 90 people — from students, families, staff, to community members — connected and empowered each other to make a difference by learning how to contribute to climate action and hone leadership skills at the second annual DPS Climate Summit.
ECO-SCHOOLS CERTIFICATION GOAL:
25 schools have and maintain certification
Four schools receive certification
Four schools received EcoSchools Certification through the National Wildlife Federation. East High and North High received Silver level certification, and Teller Elementary and Westerly Creek Elementary received Green Flag level certification, the highest level of EcoSchools certification. EcoSchools certification shows a school’s commitment to environmental learning and climate action.
Progress
Progress
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GOAL:
100% of schools have an action-based pledge toward continuously addressing environmental justice
Defining what it means to the community
The Sustainability Team hosted a workshop with the Student Voice and Leadership team to learn their views on environmental justice. The Sustainability Team plans to take the results of this workshop to DPS Students For Climate Action to develop a districtwide definition of environmental justice.
Career + Curriculum
SUSTAINABILITY CURRICULUM GOAL:
STUDENTS: 100% of schools have at least 1 annual sustainability project-based learning opportunity
STAFF: 50% of science teachers participate in an annual professional development on climate and sustainability
SustainEd Farms worked with 26 gardens serving 32 schools, and Denver Urban Gardens had community gardens and food forests at 38 schools. There were seven other school garden partnerships.
Denver Water’s Youth Education program visited 32 schools and taught around 3,300 students. This programming promotes the importance of water in our dry climate and increases knowledge of water resources in Colorado.
Future work will include developing a tracking system for participation data.
Climate Champions Grant Program has successful pilot year
The DPS Sustainability Team partnered with Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency on the first-ever Climate Champions Grant Program, which provided $225,000 in funding for DPS students to implement real-world climate action projects in their schools. 14 projects across the district were awarded funding. Projects utilized project-based learning and spanned from solar picnic tables to waste diversion to bike racks and more. The program is fully funded by Denver’s Climate Protection Fund.
Students from Vista Academy attended the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences national conference with their Climate Champions grant.
Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement will show students are prepared for the green economy
LeeAnn Kittle, Executive Director of Sustainability, testified at the Colorado Capitol in support of Senate Bill 24-014, which authorizes school districts to offer the Seal of Climate Literacy diploma endorsement to high school students who have gained skills and knowledge in addressing climate change from both coursework and experiential learning. Governor Polis signed this bill into law in May 2024.
CAREER EXPLORATION GOAL:
Of all students participating in work-based learning, 20% or more will explore/engage in activities that promote sustainability careers
34 students participated in the Renewable Energy Academy, and an additional 23 students participated in sustainability-related internships.
19% of all unique work-based learning participants grades K-12 participated in activities that promoted sustainability careers or highlighted sustainability as it impacts a particular industry.
Career exploration events featured partners such as CSU Spur, Rivian, and Namaste Solar.
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES GOAL:
100% of schools incorporate an outdoor learning space in their academics
Career and College Success hosted the Renewable Energy Academy that taught 34 high school students in summer 2024 about careers in renewable energy. All students in the program received Installation Basics Training Lite certification from GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer. The academy is funded by a grant from the City and County of Denver.
Staff defined an outdoor learning space as “an intentional space for learning in nature from nature”, and determined the physical requirements to consider for outdoor learning spaces include ADA accessibility, shade, seating areas, green space and adjacent spaces.
Staff also surveyed facility managers to learn more about the current state of outdoor learning spaces at schools and their use patterns. This data will inform future strategies.
Future work will include the creation of a comprehensive guide showcasing innovative ideas, practical opportunities, and successful case studies of outdoor learning experiences for students.
Recognition
DPS students, staff, and buildings received recognition from local and national organizations for their outstanding sustainability efforts throughout the year. It’s important to celebrate this recognition to keep us energized for the work ahead.
DPS Students for Climate Action received the President’s Environmental Youth Award in Washington, D.C., for their effort and determination in getting the DPS Board of Education to pass a climate action policy in 2022.
DPS Students for Climate Action also received Denver Urban Gardens’ Impact Award for their climate action work.
Felicia Maestas, Senior Manager with the Educational Technology and Library Services group at DPS, received the Heather Bird Jackson Changemaker Award for her collaboration and commitment to the Climate Action Plan.
LeeAnn Kittle, Executive Director of Sustainability, was awarded the Energy Manager of the Year for Central and South U.S. from the Association of Energy Engineers, and she was recognized with the 2024 Leader to Learn From Award from Ed Week. LeeAnn was also invited to share DPS’ sustainability story at the inaugural White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Buildings and Grounds.
Six schools — and over 1.6 million square feet of building space — received ENERGY STAR certification for their energy performance. This certification verifies these buildings perform in the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide in terms of energy performance metrics while meeting strict requirements for occupant comfort.
DPS Sustainability hosted the Schools Clean Energy and Indoor Air Quality Summit for members of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools and the U.S. Department of Energy's Efficient and Healthy Schools Program. Efficient and Healthy Schools 2023–24 recognition honorees at Regis Groff Campus. Image source: The Unfound
Door LLC
Join Us and Act
Let’s stay connected and work together to achieve DPS’ climate action goals. There’s plenty of climate action work to do at every level.
If you’re not sure where to start on your climate action journey, here are five actions you can take to make a difference. This list is based on recommendations from the climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe.
Talk about climate change.
Talk with friends and family about why climate change matters to you, how you have been impacted by climate change, and what actions you are taking to make change. This normalizes conversations about climate. Invite folks into the conversation rather than calling out.
Vote for policies and politicians that protect the climate.
Vote in local, state and national elections. Hold elected officials at every level accountable to climate action. Even if you aren’t able to vote yet, tell them why climate change matters to you and what you want them to do about it.
Reduce your personal carbon footprint and talk about it.
There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint — from eating more plant-based protein and less animal-based protein, to purchasing renewable energy, to walking or biking instead of driving and much more. Talk about the actions that work well for you so others feel comfortable making changes.
Whether you are a student, parent, educator, or community member, there are many ways to get educated about climate action and advocate for action: Get it involved with climate action at
Join Earth Rangers or DPS Students for Climate Action.
Join (or start!) your school’s green team or environmental club. Attend the annual DPS Climate Action Summit.
Contact the DPS Sustainability Team at dept_sustainability@dpsk12.net.
Follow climate action on Instagram: dps_sustainabilty dps_studentsforclimateaction dpsgardens
Sign up to receive the DPS Sustainability newsletter:
HOPE IS TAKING ACTION. AND HOPE ALWAYS COMES FROM THE PEOPLE.
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Greta Thunberg, climate activist
WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THE NEED TO HAVE IT.
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Kate Todd, Vice President of DPS Students for Climate Action
