Commitment

For 10 years, Omaha Public Schools has worked to reduce district-wide consumption of natural resources and to embed environmental responsibility in our culture through the Green Schools Initiative. Students collect recycling, serve as energy managers, pick up litter, plant trees, and participate in related community events. Green Champions - including building administrators, teachers, custodians, and staff - bring sustainability to life in their classrooms and buildings. Since 2010, Omaha Public Schools has seen a positive culture change, dramatically reduced its environmental impact, and accumulated approximately $16 million in cost savings. Through energy conservation measures, the district has avoided a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions - about 160,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide cumulatively. 

Environmental Stewardship Plan

The district’s Strategic Plan of Action for 2020-2025 established the need to develop an environmental stewardship plan that is data-driven and school-centered to demonstrate an ethic of care for its students and staff. In August 2023, we met this goal when we finalized the environmental stewardship plan.

Verdis Group, our longtime local partner on this journey, assisted in leading us through a student-centered process to establish future-focused goals, which include:

• 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
• Achieve an average District-wide EnergyStar score of 70 by 2030
• 50% average diversion rate* by 2030
• Reduce water usage to an average of 9.5 gal/sq ft by 2030
• Achieve a 70 on the Environmental Stewardship Engagement Survey by 2030

*Diversion Rate represents the percentage of materials not going to the landfill.

We now have our roadmap for the next 10 years! Thank you to everyone involved in the process. We look forward to supporting our schools and community as these innovative strategies are implemented.

The Green Ribbon Award recognizes schools that reduce their environmental impact, improve the health and wellness of schools and occupants, and provide environmental education. Omaha Public Schools won the 2014 District Green Ribbon Sustainability award and 10 schools have earned Green Ribbon awards over the entirety of the program so far. Showing progress towards these goals illustrates the District’s commitment to resource reduction and improving the health and wellness of the District. Below is a list of schools that have earned awards:

2012

• Miller Park Elementary
• Lothrop Elementary

2013

• King Science

2014

• District Award
• Fontenelle Elementary

2015

• Gomez Heritage Elementary
• Wilson Focus School

2016

• Davis Middle

2017

• Chandler View Elementary
• Northwest High

Omaha Public Schools conducted an energy study of all our buildings. The study identified energy efficiency and cost-saving opportunities. Our district partnered with Verdis Group, an Omaha sustainability consulting firm, to evaluate all of the district’s occupied buildings using the ENERGY STAR system. The district’s Energy Management Team implements best practices to ensure Omaha Public Schools is improving. The team is always hard at work identifying ways that our buildings can be more energy-efficient while ensuring that they are adequately heated, cooled, illuminated and have excellent indoor air quality. Energy efficiency is a collaborative effort. Building students, staff and administrators all play a vital role in conserving energy and resources.

The following schools have earned Energy Star Awards: Beals Elementary, Buffett Middle, Harrison Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Kennedy Elementary, King Science Middle, Marrs Middle, Miller Park Elementary, Ponca Elementary, Rose Hill Elementary, Sherman Elementary, Springville Elementary, Wakonda Elementary and Washington Elementary.

LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. The following schools have achieved LEED certification: Educare at Indian Hill, Gateway Elementary, North High addition, Davis Middle