Education Project Resources

Funding & incentive resources for education energy projects.

Explore federal, state, utility, and financing resources that may help support qualifying school energy-efficiency improvements. Use this page as a starting point, then confirm current eligibility and funding directly with the program administrator.

Before You Start

Not every resource works the same way.

Some programs provide direct project funding. Others help finance upgrades, reimburse qualifying measures, or support the studies and planning needed before construction begins.

Grant Direct project funding

Competitive or formula-based awards that generally do not need to be repaid when program requirements are met.

Loan / Financing Lower the upfront burden

Financing can spread project cost over time, sometimes at low or zero interest for qualifying public-school projects.

Utility Incentive Location-dependent rebates

Electric utilities may offer incentives for qualifying lighting, controls, or other efficiency improvements in their territory.

Technical Assistance Planning before purchasing

Studies, design support, and technical resources can help a district define the project before equipment is selected.

US / National

Nationwide starting points.

Federal school-efficiency programs can create major funding opportunities, while national resource networks can help districts plan projects and identify additional financing options.

Federal Program Monitor Future Rounds

DOE Renew America’s Schools

A U.S. Department of Energy program supporting energy improvements at K–12 public schools. Past rounds funded school-facility upgrades nationwide. DOE announced a new A+STEPS opportunity in October 2026; see the separate card below for current details.

Who
Public-school districts and qualifying K–12 projects.
May Support
Energy-efficiency upgrades, including building-system improvements.
Use It For
Tracking federal school-energy funding opportunities and past rounds.
View DOE program →
Federal Funding Opportunity Regional Applications Expected Nov 2026

A+STEPS — Affordability + Strategic Energy Pathways for Schools

DOE announced up to $100 million in program funding to establish regional hubs that help public K–12 schools lower energy costs, prepare facility improvement plans, and connect with technical assistance and project-development resources.

Regional Round
Applications expected to open November 2026; regional hub submissions due January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
May Provide
Energy audits, strategic planning, technical assistance, training, and limited early improvements of up to $250,000 per participating local educational agency, subject to program requirements.
For Schools
Individual school districts cannot apply directly for regional hub funding. A separate LEA/partner participation process is anticipated in spring/summer 2027.
View DOE A+STEPS opportunity →
Technical Resource Active Resource

DOE Efficient and Healthy Schools

A national DOE resource network offering technical and financial guidance for school districts working on energy performance, building health, and facility improvements.

Who
Schools, districts, and organizations supporting school facilities.
Provides
Technical resources, peer learning, project guidance, and financing information.
Important
This is a planning resource, not itself a direct rebate or grant.
Explore DOE resources →
CA / California

California school-efficiency financing.

California currently offers a particularly relevant K–12 financing pathway through the California Energy Commission, with eligible measures that expressly include efficient lighting systems.

Zero-Interest Loan Ongoing / Funds Permitting

K–12 Energy Efficiency Program (KTEP)

The California Energy Commission provides zero-interest loans for qualifying energy upgrades and retrofits in existing K–12 school facilities. Funds are awarded first-come, first-served until exhausted.

Who
California local educational agencies, including school districts, charter schools, county offices of education, and state special schools.
Lighting
Eligible examples include highly efficient lighting systems, including systems integrating daylighting.
Before Applying
Confirm current fund availability with the California Energy Commission.
View California KTEP →
School Loan Program Current Cycle Closed

ECAA-Ed Zero-Interest School Loans

California’s Energy Conservation Assistance Act education financing has supported eligible school energy projects, including lighting upgrades. The most recent application cycle is closed while the program is being updated.

Status
Keep on a project watch list rather than treating it as currently open funding.
Best Use
Monitor the California Energy Commission for the next school-loan application cycle.
Check ECAA loan status →
NY / New York

Planning support plus competitive school funding.

NYSERDA maintains education-specific programs that can support the planning and design stage of energy upgrades, while larger construction funding is offered through competitive rounds.

Cost-Share / Planning Continuous

P–12 Schools: Green & Clean Energy Solutions

NYSERDA provides cost-sharing for eligible school energy studies and clean-energy design work. This can help fund the planning stage before a district commits to construction or equipment purchases.

Cost Share
Up to 75% of eligible costs, capped at $150,000 per qualifying project.
Best For
Energy studies, clean heating and cooling design, and net-zero design work.
Important
This is primarily planning and design support, not a direct lighting-equipment rebate.
View NYSERDA program →
Competitive Funding Latest Round Closed

Clean Green Schools Initiative

NYSERDA’s Clean Green Schools Initiative supports qualifying public-school construction projects that reduce energy use, improve building performance, and advance decarbonization. The latest published round closed August 18, 2026.

Who
Qualifying Priority Districts and eligible public-school or BOCES buildings in disadvantaged communities.
Use It For
Tracking future construction-funding rounds for comprehensive school energy upgrades.
Check future Clean Green Schools rounds →
FL / Florida

Financing pathways and utility incentives.

Florida does not currently present one statewide K–12 lighting grant that fits every district. The more practical pathways are energy-performance contracting and incentives offered by the local electric utility serving the facility.

Financing Pathway Active in State Law

Florida Educational Energy Performance Contracting

Florida law allows district school boards and other educational institutions to use energy performance-based contracts for qualifying conservation measures when projected savings support the project economics.

Who
District school boards, Florida College System institutions, and state universities.
Structure
Contracts may use guaranteed energy or operating savings and can extend up to 20 years under statutory requirements.
Important
This is a financing mechanism, not a state cash rebate or automatic grant.
Read Florida Statute 1013.23 →
Utility Rebates Service Area Dependent

Florida Commercial Lighting Incentives

Several Florida utilities currently maintain commercial efficiency programs that include qualifying lighting projects. Availability, equipment requirements, and rebate values depend on the serving utility and project scope.

FPL
Indoor lighting rebates currently advertise up to $40 per qualifying LED fixture.
OUC
Commercial indoor lighting projects currently earn incentives based on qualifying demand reduction.
JEA
Business rebates include retrofit lighting and lighting-control measures.

Check your serving utility before specifying equipment.

Utility programs can require pre-approval, specific fixture types, operating-hour thresholds, licensed installation, or other project documentation. Verify eligibility before purchasing equipment.

Florida Power & Light Business indoor lighting rebate program. OUC Commercial & Industrial energy incentives. JEA Business efficiency rebate program.
WA / Washington

Public-building grants and early-adopter incentives.

Washington offers public-building efficiency grants in funding rounds and also maintains Clean Buildings incentives for qualifying covered buildings that meet program requirements.

Competitive Grant Monitor Next Round

Energy Efficiency Retrofits Grants

Washington State Department of Commerce provides competitive efficiency funding for public buildings and facilities, expressly including schools and school districts. Recent awards were tied to a completed funding round.

Who
Eligible public entities include school districts along with other public and community facilities.
Purpose
Efficiency improvements that reduce building energy use and operating costs.
Next Step
Monitor Commerce for the next solicitation rather than assuming continuous applications.
View Washington grant program →
Building Incentive Active for Qualifying Buildings

Clean Buildings Early Adopter Incentives

Washington’s Clean Buildings program offers early-adopter incentives for qualifying covered buildings that complete required efficiency work and meet program standards. Building size, utility participation, energy performance, and deadlines matter.

Tier 1
Qualifying covered buildings may receive incentives tied to square footage and verified energy savings; deadlines vary by building size.
Tier 2
Qualifying buildings roughly 20,000–50,001 sq. ft. can pursue incentives through participating utilities, with current compliance/incentive deadlines extending into 2027.
Important
Use the state portal to confirm whether a specific school building is covered and whether its utility participates.
Check Tier 1 Check Tier 2
PA / Pennsylvania

School facility improvement funding.

Pennsylvania maintains a major public-school facility grant program that expressly includes energy-saving projects. Actual award availability depends on state funding allocations and active application windows.

Facility Grant Funding Windows Vary

Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program

Pennsylvania’s PSFIG supports eligible facility improvement projects at public school districts and area career and technical schools. State program materials expressly include energy-saving projects among eligible improvement categories.

Grant Size
Current program materials list awards from $500,000 up to $5 million.
Match
Current program materials list a standard 25% matching requirement.
Status Note
The program remains active, but specific funded application windows are announced separately. Confirm the current round before planning around an award.
View Pennsylvania PSFIG →
Local Utility Search Service Area Dependent

Pennsylvania Utility Efficiency Incentives

Depending on service territory, a school may also qualify for commercial utility efficiency incentives. Because measures, pre-approval rules, and rebate values change by utility, use DSIRE or the serving utility’s current business-efficiency program to verify the project before purchasing equipment.

Best For
Lighting retrofits, controls, and other qualifying efficiency measures where a serving utility offers commercial incentives.
Next Step
Search by ZIP code or utility territory rather than assuming one statewide rebate applies everywhere.
Search Pennsylvania incentives →
Don’t See Your State?

Search incentives available near your project.

Funding and rebate programs often depend on state, utility service territory, building type, and project scope. DSIRE provides a nationwide database for finding current renewable-energy and energy-efficiency policies and incentives by location.

Nationwide Search Tool

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University and provides state and ZIP-code based access to energy policies and incentive programs across the United States.

Search DSIRE → Explore DOE School Resources
Funding information is a starting point, not a guarantee of eligibility.

Program availability, funding balances, application periods, qualifying technologies, service territories, and project requirements can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the program administrator or serving utility before purchasing equipment, committing project funds, or relying on an incentive in a project budget. EMITEVER is not the administrator of the programs listed on this page.

Already planning an education lighting project?

If you have reached the system-planning stage and need help working through voltage, wattage, controls, or compatible lighting components, project assistance is available separately.

Project assistance →