Working together for sustainable schools, stronger communities, and a healthier future for all Maine students.
The Maine Green Schools Program, a partnership between the Maine Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, supports public schools across the state in advancing sustainability in four key areas: leadership, facilities, curriculum, and career pathways.
Our mission is simple and powerful:
- 🌱 Save school districts money
- ⚡ Increase energy efficiency and resilience
- 🌍 Reduce pollution and improve health for Maine’s students
As part of our broader climate and education strategy, the Green Schools Program is helping schools transition toward cleaner technologies, smarter buildings, and meaningful climate-related learning opportunities — from the classroom to the community.
Upcoming Events
For full information about the opportunities below, please see this document.
Free Energy Audit & Indoor Air Quality Testing for Maine Schools
The Maine Department of Education’s Green Schools Program is excited to offer Maine school districts an opportunity to assess and improve building performance. In partnership with Building Infrastructure Management Solutions (“BIMS”), this program provides free school facility energy analysis and indoor air quality consultation and technical assistance.
Through this program, BIMS will serve as a technical partner to your district, helping you better understand and plan for improvements to energy efficiency, measure and improve indoor air quality, while enhancing school facility resilience—while reducing long-term operational costs.
Interested? Simply complete the short interest form or call to discuss the program and next steps. Selected districts will participate in follow-up discussions to confirm eligibility and scope.
Interested parties must fill out the audit application.
For questions or to discuss participation directly, please contact:
Donald Bresnahan, Senior Vice President, BIMS at 207-956-2685 or directly via email at don@bims.company
LED Lighting Retrofit Funding Opportunity Notice – Efficiency Maine
Through this Funding Opportunity Notice (FON) Efficiency Maine is seeking applications for energy efficiency projects involving lighting retrofits in Maine public PreK-12 schools.
This initiative offers incentives that are 30% higher than typically provided under the Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Initiatives (CIPI), with the intent of accelerating the conversion to LED lighting. Interested participants can find more information about this program and instructions on how to apply in the FON document posted below under “Program Documents." https://www.efficiencymaine.com/school-lighting-retrofits/
Summary of Up-To-Date Federal Energy Tax Credits and Resources.
Perhaps one of the best, easiest-to-read, and dependable updates on federal tax credits and resources comes from a school-centered non-profit named UndauntedK-12. Use the following link to walk through a clear, well-researched description of the existing and rapidly changing landscape in energy systems support for America’s schools.
Energy Tax Credits for Schools Hub
The Updates to Energy Tax Credits page provides a direct link to the overviews of the current energy tax credits available to schools. You'll find updated links to the two videos on the Updates page.
Maine schools face unique challenges—and opportunities—when it comes to saving energy. From our long, cold winters to the need for safe, healthy learning spaces, the right solutions can make a big difference for both budgets and classrooms. That’s why we’ve created a set of practical, Maine-specific energy efficiency guides tailored for school districts. These resources focus on real examples from Maine schools and strategies designed to work in our climate, not just generic recommendations.
Inside the six guides, you’ll find straightforward, actionable steps on everything from launching an energy assessment to choosing heat pumps for ventilation, adding solar power, or making the switch to electric buses. Each guide is built with Maine weather, schools, and communities in mind—helping districts reduce costs, improve health, and set students up for a more sustainable future.
Whether you’re a facilities director, superintendent, school board member, or community advocate, these guides are designed to spark ideas and make decision-making easier and more thoughtful. Explore them today and see how Maine schools are leading the way in energy efficiency and clean energy adoption.
Our Compass: Four Pillars of a Resilient and Healthy Future
We describe the Maine Green Schools Program using the image of a compass, guiding our collective work with clear North Star and directional focus areas. Each “point” represents one of the four areas we believe are essential to a sustainable future for Maine schools:
At the heart of this initiative is leadership — the educators, school administrators, and students working together to find real solutions to climate change. The program seeks to empower schools to build cultures of resilience, sustainability, and innovation, providing opportunities for students to become informed, engaged stewards of their communities and environment.
From wind technicians to environmental engineers, the future of Maine’s economy is getting “greener” each decade. We are building strong career pathways in clean energy, sustainable land management, environmental consulting, recycling, and waste reduction. The Green Schools Program helps K–12 students explore emerging opportunities and connect their education to real-world impact.
From upgrading energy systems to improving building envelopes, school playgrounds, and nature-based learning environments, this program supports efforts to modernize school facilities for greater energy efficiency and better indoor air quality. Our focus includes early childhood spaces and outdoor learning areas for all ages — creating healthier and more inspiring places to learn and grow.
A strong curriculum is key to preparing students for the challenges of the future. The program supports climate change education through direct teacher support, including the Climate Education Professional Development Grant program and Maine Climate Literacy Plan. We align with Maine’s Learning Results and Next Generation Science and Math Standards, encouraging rigorous, standards-based instruction that engages students in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and policy evaluation — in science, math, and social studies classrooms alike.
National Recognition
We’re proud to share that Maine’s Green Schools Program has been recognized nationally. In 2025, the state received the Green Difference Makers Award from the national Project Green Schools for the creation of the Green Schools Program and its innovative alignment between the Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future — the first of its kind in the nation.
Resources for Maine Schools
As part of our commitment to support schools on their sustainability journey, we’re excited to offer new resources for Maine educators and school leaders — available for the first time beginning in fall 2025:
- 🔍Technical Energy Consulting: Qualified districts will have access to technical consultants at no cost to begin a deep analysis of their heating systems and overall energy conservation plans. These experts will help schools explore cleaner, more cost-effective heating options that reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency.
- 📝 Sustainability Planning Support:Districts interested in developing or strengthening their sustainability plans will also have access to expert consulting services, helping them align with best practices and set actionable goals for environmental progress.
- 📘 Getting Started Guides for Energy Reduction:
This fall, we’ll release the Getting Started Energy Reduction Guides for Decarbonization, created specifically for Maine school districts. These practical guides will offer step-by-step advice on reducing emissions, improving indoor air quality, and saving energy — tailored to Maine’s unique climate and infrastructure.
These new tools and supports mark a major step forward — making it easier than ever for Maine schools to take action, plan wisely, and create learning environments that are cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable for future generations.
Contact
Glenn Cummings
Director of Green Schools
Phone: 207-816-2682
Email: Glenn.Cummings@maine.gov
Supports the following Areas:
- Decarbonization of school buildings and buses.
- Building envelope assessments and technical support opportunities.
- Funding opportunities to decrease carbon emissions and heating and cooling costs.