MCPS should prioritize keeping our HVAC systems up-to-date – Not only for the environment, but also for our students.

Public Comment to the Montgomery County Board of Education from a member of the MCPS Student Climate Action Council (November 4, 2024)

Good evening, superintendent Taylor and members of the Board. We are members of the MCPS Student Climate Action Council or SCAC, a student-composed, Board-sanctioned group seeking to create a green school system. 

As you all know, the SCAC combines a multitude of perspectives from different schools throughout the county, and we work to reduce MCPS’s environmental impact while providing support for student sustainability projects. 

The SCAC is currently working to formulate a Climate Action Plan to support the school system in reaching its emissions and sustainability goals of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2027 and 100% by 2035. One of the main pillars of the plan is clean energy, which is crucial to reducing Montgomery County’s carbon footprint. The two components of this pillar that we want to focus on tonight are energy conservation and efficient HVAC systems. 

MCPS should be conscious about their energy usage when updating current facilities or building new ones, particularly by harnessing more solar power. Currently, MCPS has 17 solar sites at their schools. However, MCPS has over 200 schools, meaning these solar sites make up less than 10% of the total. MCPS should increase the amount of schools that utilize solar power, given the multitude of benefits it offers. These benefits include reduced electricity costs, zero carbon emissions, lower maintenance needs, and educational opportunities for students to learn about renewable energy first-hand. In fact, MCPS has saved over 300,000 dollars because of solar power. 

Ensuring that current buildings are renovated to be all-electric is another priority. Converting to electric heating systems and appliances will create healthier learning environments for our students by improving indoor air quality, while significantly reducing our schools' carbon footprint. This would decrease our reliance on unsustainable energy practices and would also benefit our school system in the long term. 

MCPS should also explore alternatives to reduce energy use, such as implementing cool roofs, which are simply roofs painted white. They’re designed to reflect sunlight and thus reduce the internal temperature of the building. In addition to being environmentally conservative, this design would also reduce air conditioning costs. 

Additionally, MCPS should prioritize keeping our HVAC systems up-to-date – Not only for the environment, but also for our students. An issue that has been brought up time and time again amongst our students is MCPS’s old, unreliable, breaking HVAC systems. These outdated systems create highly uncomfortable learning conditions, and we must prioritize the success of our students by keeping these systems updated. Upgrading these systems isn’t just about comfort—it's an investment in healthier, more productive learning spaces that support both our students' well-being and our district’s environmental goals. 

The environmental issues stemming from MCPS’ current HVAC systems are a result of their reliance on outdated, inefficient technologies. These technologies consume excessive energy and use refrigerants with high global warming potential, both of which are contributing to environmental harm. By expanding programs such as MCPS’s already existing geothermal heating systems, MCPS can fortify its position as a climate leader, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and creating a better learning environment. 

Advances in our county’s energy and HVAC systems will undoubtedly lower our County’s impact on the climate, and will help create a green school system for future MCPS students. As the climate crisis worsens, it is imperative that MCPS seeks to take immediate action on present environmental issues and unify their response under an overarching Climate Action Plan. The integration of clean energy and climate-consciousness into all parts of the school system will allow MCPS to reach its zero emissions goal by 2035. MCPS does not only have the ability to take these actions, it has a responsibility to do so; a responsibility to the students, staff, and community whose futures will be affected by climate change. Thank you