Energy Efficiency

On December 15, 2021, the OUSD Board unanimously approved installing backup batteries at the three (3) school sites listed below. The implementation began in early 2023. The backup batteries will store unused energy generated from the solar panels to improve the site’s energy use resiliency and load management.

Current Sites Receiving Battery Back-Up Installation:

1. Oakland Technical High School
2. Oakland High School
3. Castlemont High School

^{Pictured: Completed Solar Project at Highland Community School}

On December 15, 2021, the OUSD Board unanimously approved installing solar panels at seven school sites. The implementation began in early 2023. In the summer of 2024, OUSD celebrated the completion of major solar installations at seven school sites across the district. The solar panels will provide clean, renewable energy to the school site. 

Completed Solar Projects: 

1. Acorn Woodland Elementary School
2. Frick United Academy of Languages 
3. Highland Community School 
4. Hoover Elementary School 
5. Lockwood Steam Academy
6. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School 
7. The Center at Foster Elementary School 

Completing these solar projects marks an exciting milestone in OUSD’s commitment to energy efficiency. These seven sites drive district-wide energy efficiency, adding 1,715,977 kWh of solar production to OUSD and saving $2.2 million over the next 20 years.

The 2015 Solar Project implemented solar panels at 16 school sites through the California Solar Initiative Program. This solar initiative was created to support the reduction of the District’s impact on the environment through the use of clean, renewable energy. The project was completed in 2015 using a design-build delivery method in collaboration with SunPower Corporation.

2015 Solar Project School Sites (Completed in 2015): 

1. Bret Harte Middle School
2. Castlemont High School
3. Edna Brewer Middle School
4. Havenscourt Middle School
5. Kings Estate Middle School
6. Lowell Middle School
7. Madison Middle School
8. McClymonds High School
9. Monterra Middle School
10. Oakland High School
11. Oakland International High School
12. Oakland Technical High School
13. Roosevelt Middle School
14. Sankofa at Washington Elementary School
15. Skyline High School
16. Westlake Middle School

Prop 39 is a state-funded energy efficiency initiative that assists schools with improving facilities and lowering energy bills. The scope included replacing existing lighting with LED equivalents, modular AC units (bard units) with efficient units, existing motors in classrooms with Electronically Communicated Motors, and classroom thermostats with smart thermostats. Each of these equipment replacements will reduce electrical consumption. Following that, the District removed the darkening film on the clerestory windows.

Sites that Received Prop 39 Lighting Efficiency Upgrades: 

1. Allendale Elementary School
2. Bella Vista Elementary School
3. Claremont Middle School
4. Garfield Elementary School
5. Kaiser Elementary School
6. Jefferson Elementary School
7. Maxwell Park Elementary School
8. Oakland Tech High School
9. Maxwell Park Middle School
10. Sequoia Elementary School
11. Skyline High School
12. Washington Elementary School
13. West Oakland Middle School
     

The La Escuelita Education Center was Oakland’s first grid-neutral school and kicked off the District’s journey to Zero Net Energy. The school site has a 583 kW solar grid system on its roof. This provides most of the energy needed for the school year and is expected to save the school $180,000 a year on energy costs. 

La Escuelita Zero Net Energy Project 

In 2004, the District committed to reducing energy and water consumption with an Energy and Water Conservation Board Policy. To do so, the District established energy efficiency programs and developed emergency plans in the event of a power outage.

Energy and Water Conservation Policy (2004)

Following the Energy and Water Conservation Policy of 2004, the District established the Energy and Water Plan in 2007. The goal was to use energy and water more efficiently, leading to lower utility bills, a better learning environment, and stronger environmental stewardship.

Additionally, OUSD aimed to purchase and install energy-efficient facilities and provide technical resources to the Maintenance and Operations team to evaluate energy-efficient technologies. The District increased its outreach and education efforts to promote energy-efficient behaviors among staff and students.

Energy and Water Plan for District (2007)

From 2014 to 2015, several OUSD schools participated in a friendly competition to reduce energy usage. The competition aimed to encourage sustainable behavior among students and peers. Castlemont High won the competition, reducing its energy consumption by 10 percent.

Sustainability/emPower Energy Conservation Program (2015)