Our Work in Schools
We deployed grants in 2022 and 2023 to help get Denver Public Schools and Adams County schools electrify their lawn equipment. Here grounds crew at an Adams County school learn how to use new electric lawn equipment.
LETS CLEAN THE AIR FOR OUR KIDS
We know that a lot of air pollution is local (54). That means we can clean up the air in and around our schools and help our children live healthier lives and learn better.
next steps
The Problem
Air around our schools influences how well our children learn and how healthy they will be (see Health Effects section). In addition, a 2018 study in Oakland showed that air pollution drops off rapidly away from sources like roads by as much as eight times less just a city block away. So keeping the air clean near our schools makes a big difference. We can create healthy "islands" of clean air for our children .
What is being done now
Several of Denver's schools are already monitoring air quality. The data has been starting to accumulate and we are starting to understand which schools need help the most. At right is Gust Elementary's air monitor.
What we need to do moving forward
We at SmogFree Denver advocate for a transition to all electric lawn equipment in Denver Public Schools. We also advocate for electric school buses to start replacing the old, dirty diesel fleet. We are working with local public schools to help transition their lawn equipment from gas to electric. See below on our grant deployment in Denver Public Schools and Adams County schools. We also advocate for electrification of all Denver school buildings (see Clean Buildings section) for heating and hot water. In the past years, more and more schools are electrifying their bus fleets. Something very exciting! This is a Thomas electric school bus; one of many electric bus suppliers in a growing market.