To date, Dallas ISD’s commitment to going green is saving nearly $20 million.
“We are super proud of this,” said David Bates, Chief of Operations. “If you take what we spent on utilities from 2016 to 2020 and what we spent from 2020 to 2024, we saved $19.8 million.”
On April 11, Bates updated the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees on Environment & Climate Resolution. Passed in 2020, the resolution lays out environmental goals in the areas of construction, food and child nutrition, grounds, maintenance and custodial, and energy.
Dallas ISD is well on its way to achieving those goals.
Direct results of the resolution include:
- Designing all new facilities, renovations and additions to buildings in accordance with International Green Construction Code and Dallas Green Construction Code
- Replacing water fountains with units that have lead-free filters and installing lead-free bottle-filling stations at schools
- Placing recycling bins at all Dallas ISD facilities
- Adding 17 electric school buses and chargers
- Replacing dead trees with native or adaptive trees
- Decreasing water use intensity for each facility by 9%
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 97%
Ben Mackey, trustee for District 7, said these savings give the district an opportunity to invest in other district initiatives and needs.
“This is not “we’re spending a bunch of money that could otherwise go to kids.” This is actually saving us money in just being more thoughtful about how we do this work,” he said. “What we aren’t spending on electrical bills can go back into staff allocations, reading interventionists, etc.”
Dan Micciche, first vice president and trustee for District 3, said the results show investing in energy-saving initiatives isn’t necessarily expensive.
“A lot of people don’t realize that doing things that are environmentally sound don’t have to be three times the cost,” Micciche said. “We are saving money and hoping to save the environment.”
Mackey agreed, saying that Dallas ISD’s results are an example for other districts in the country.
“If you look across the nation, Dallas ISD is a leader in this space, and I hope we continue to be a leader and share what we’re learning with others as they go through this process,” he said.
