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Better Buildings Challenge

Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. The Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) is a network of leading businesses, manufacturers, cities, states, universities, and school districts that commit to improving the energy efficiency of their portfolio of buildings by at least 20% over 10 years and share their strategies and results.  Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient by accelerating investment and sharing of successful best practices. Greater efficiency saves billions of dollars on energy bills, reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and creates jobs.

The LA Better Buildings Challenge (LABBC) is an elite network of LA’s top performing buildings, a collaborative forum where building owners and managers share best practices and gain recognition for exceptional achievements.

LAUSD Better Buildings Commitment​

LAUSD joined DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge in 2016. LAUSD set goals of reducing energy and water use by 20% over the next 10 years across its 70 million square feet of building space. The district plans to meet its Challenge energy reduction goals by leveraging some of its current programs, including: Proposition 39 (Clean Energy Jobs Act), lighting replacement and retrofit program, and incorporating new strategies such as demand response which includes battery storage and energy management systems (EMS). LAUSD also serves as an active participant in DOE’s Zero Energy Schools Accelerator.
LAUSD also continues to implement various water saving measures to reach its Challenge reduction goals, including plumbing retrofits, re/retro commissioning, comprehensive modernization, and the use of recycled water. Below are analyses of the District's progress in reducing energy and water use through 2018.  LAUSD's BBC portfolio consists of more than 647 school sites and 70 million square feet.  

Portfolio Energy Performance

Portfolio Water Performance
Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. LAUSD has improved energy performance by 5% from a 2014 baseline, making progress towards a goal of 20% by 2024.​
Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source water use intensity (WUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. LAUSD has improved water performance by 10% from a 2014 baseline, making progress towards a goal of 20% by 2024. 
EUI and % Improvement v. Baseline
WUI and % Improvement v. Baseline

Recognition

Representatives from the US DOE visited the District in March 2019 to recognize energy productivity advances made at our schools.  They toured Helen Bernstein Senior High School and Santee Education Complex to survey the numerous energy upgrades at these campuses.  They also made a presentation to the Board of Education to recognize and highlight the District's energy reduction efforts. USDOE Better Buildings Director Maria Vargas thanked the District, as its "commitment and success is an example for other school districts".  Click to listen to an interview with Ms. Vargas and LAUSDS Director of Architectural and Engineering Services Christos Chysiliou on Go Green Radio, and click below to see a brief video celebrating the occasion. 
 
Also during the DOE visit, LAUSD accepted the LABBC "2019 Walk the Walk Portfolio of the Year" Award at the California Endowment Center. The award signifies the District's efforts in pursuing its sustainability mission and reinforces the spirit of collaboration as we walk the walk with our students, teachers and partners in developing healthier and more efficient learning environments.  Click for more information on LABBC's Case Study of the District's efforts.

Primary Partners