Carbon Free Healthy Schools

06/27/2025

🌱 We're thrilled to share a major step forward in sustainable education! Thanks to our collaboration with Local 134, Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund, IUOE Local 150 and Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, Climate Jobs Illinois is leading the charge in launching Chicago Public Schools' Green Schools Pilot Program. This initiative not only enhances educational environments but also creates good-paying union jobs and promotes environmental stewardship.

Learn more:

The resolution directs the district to look for energy efficient ways to make needed repairs. The board will vote on the proposal at Thursday’s board meeting.

05/06/2025

Thanks to our partners at Iron Workers Local #63, we enjoyed a great session for our Carbon Free Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn. Find out more at: https://climatejobsillinois.org/schools/

05/06/2025

“The solar project has been a transformative step for our school, not only reducing our energy costs but also providing a sustainable, eco-friendly learning environment for our students. The installation process was smooth and efficient, and we’re proud to lead by example in teaching the next generation about the importance of renewable energy. This project has truly empowered our school community to embrace a greener future.”

Learn how one Illinois public school district took advantage of state incentives to go green--and save some green:

04/07/2025

Join our contractor meet & greet on 4/17 from 11:30-1:30 and learn about pre-apprenticeship programs and how they can benefit your business and career.

Rsvp: [email protected]

01/14/2025

https://www.dailyherald.com/20250112/transportation/suburban-school-districts-slowly-rolling-out-electric-school-buses/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article%20column&utm_campaign=01%2F13%2F2025

Suburban school districts have a long road ahead of them before school bus fleets are completely electric. Thanks to state and federal grants and an incentive from a utility, however, districts slowly...

11/13/2024

Did you know? The U.S. EPA provides incentives to invest in electric school buses that will reduce toxic emissions and make for a safer, healthier ride for your kids to school. See what the school system in Westville, IL did with those credits:

New school buses will replace diesel buses, providing cleaner, quieter, and safer rides to school; First Student's First Charge system allows for accelerated EV deployment.

07/21/2024

“It has become all the more evident in the past few years that while the transition to green energy is inevitable, we need to use every tool at our disposal to slow down emissions and address climate change,” Pritzker said.

There is now a legal path to build carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) pipelines in Illinois after Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Thursday outlining that path by creating a regulatory framework for pipelines in the state.

06/24/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is bargaining for climate action in their next union contract.

Among the climate policy demands is the union’s green schools initiative, which includes electrifying the school bus fleet, cutting building emissions, and creating new technical education programs to train students for renewable energy union jobs.

The union also is seeking new clean energy education programs at every neighborhood high school, starting with those in environmental justice communities.

Labor leaders see both practical and strategic benefits to bargaining over climate policy.

05/22/2024

Today's the day. Join our webinar on 5/22 at 4pm ct Carbon Free Healthy Schools, a community campaign to learn how to make our schools greener, save districts millions in energy costs, & create good jobs for Illinois workers.

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u1owdrSdSPWy7BsX67lOYg

05/19/2024

Join our webinar on 5/22 at 4pm ct Carbon Free Healthy Schools, a community campaign to learn how to make our schools greener, save districts millions in energy costs, & create good jobs for Illinois workers.

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u1owdrSdSPWy7BsX67lOYg