ETHS presents annual sustainability update: energy savings, paused grants and next steps

Evanston Township High School on May 12 delivered the first annual update required by the district’s Green New Deal sustainability policy and outlined multi‑year energy reductions, planned equipment upgrades and several grant efforts that are active or paused.

John Crawford, director of operations and sustainability, told the board the district has completed six consecutive years in a strategic energy management (SEM) program and has reduced electricity use by more than 2.4 million kilowatt hours — a 27.8% reduction — since the program began. In 2024 the district reported a 335,000‑kWh reduction (about 4.7% for the year), Crawford said.

“Over six years we’re over 2,400,000 kilowatt hours saved, or a 27.8% reduction,” Crawford said. The district reported avoided energy costs of about $218,000 for electricity and roughly $189,000 for natural gas, yielding a combined avoided‑cost…