U.S. Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools Grant to Modernize K-12 Infrastructure

The 2024 Renew America’s School Prize will provide up to $6.9M in cash prize awards of $300,000 each, followed by grant awards between $7.5M and $15M.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE’s) Renew America’s Schools program provides investments to transform decaying public school infrastructure into healthier, more energy efficient learning environments. The program supports the implementation of infrastructure improvements in schools, with a focus on local educational agencies (LEAs) that qualify as rural and/or high poverty. Through Renew America’s Schools, DOE will help create healthier learning environments, lower utility costs, and redirect funds to support students and teachers.

PHASE 1 (PRIZE): Portfolio + Team = Up to 23 Winners at $300,000 cash prize each
In Phase 1 (“Portfolio + Team”), competitors will identify a minimum of 10 schools/school facilities to be included in their application. The portfolio may span multiple LEAs. The portfolio should exhibit a high need for energy assessments and, ultimately, energy improvements. The goal of Phase 1 is for competitors to successfully assemble their project team, assemble their portfolio of school facilities, demonstrate the need for energy improvements at schools and school facilities in the defined portfolio, and outline their process to complete the tasks in Phase 2. Based on successful completion of Phase 1, winners may be invited to enter into negotiations with DOE for a Cooperative Agreement.

PHASE 2 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Strategic Plan + Energy Audits = $500,000 to $1,000,000 per grantee
ONLY winners from the Phase 1 Prize will be eligible to negotiate with DOE to receive a Cooperative Agreement for Phase 2 and Phase 3 funding.
Phase 2 (“Strategic Plan + Energy Audits”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 1 of the Cooperative Agreement. Funding in Phase 2 will reimburse Grantees for costs associated with energy audits and strategic planning and design. DOE will allocate a set amount of funding per Grantee, determined by the number of schools or school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application [see Table 1 below]. In Phase 2, Grantees conduct The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 energy audits of all the schools/school facilities in the portfolio and develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan for implementing energy improvements. Energy audits and the Strategic

PHASE 3 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Implementation = $7,000,000 to $14,000,000 per grantee
Phase 3 (“Implementation”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 2 of the Cooperative Agreement. In Phase 3, DOE will allocate a set amount of funding per grantee, determined by the number of schools/school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application. In Phase 3, Grantees oversee implementation of the energy improvements identified at the end of Phase 2. DOE will work with Grantees to ensure high-priority energy improvements are implemented within the allotted budget for Phase 3. Phase 3 should directly advance the measurable goals of energy savings and high impact health and safety benefits outlined in Phase 1.

Submit questions to Schools@DOE.gov. Please refer to the HeroX website to find the answer to your emailed question.

To apply, please register with the online application portal, HeroX, at [https://www.herox.com/renewschoolsprize]. Rules and required documents for application packages are available on the HeroX website.