K-12 Energy Benchmarking Project - Educational Consultant 2026-2027

The K-12 Energy Benchmarking Project will take you and your students on an energy-efficiency investigation of your school building using professional energy-auditing equipment. Explore the Project Overview, Lessons, Tool Spreadsheet, Equipment Guide, and the standards this project meets. Use the red buttons below to learn more and see if this project is right for you and your students! This project can be completed in as short as 2-3 weeks, or longer if you want to take a deep dive into your school's energy use. The Benchmarking Project is intended for students in 6th-12th grade.

NOTE: The resources and lessons below will slightly change for 2026-2027 based on feedback from our 2025-2026 consultant cohort. 

Project Overview  Tool Spreadsheet Equipment Guide  NGSS Spreadsheet 

Educators involved in the K-12 Energy Benchmarking Project can earn $750 in consulting fees! 

Requirements to earn $750:

  • The 2026-2027 application is open. Apply below.
  • Complete the Energy Baseline and Usage form and submit at least 12 months of the school's electricity and natural gas bills by September 23, 2026 (Email bills to ksenergyprog@ksu.edu).
  • Attend an in-person workshop in Manhattan, KS in September or October (2026) (reimbursements provided for lunch, travel, and a substitute). 
  • Complete Lessons 1-5 and at least one type of audit (under lesson #6). See lessons and the three types of audits below. 
  • Submit feedback forms after each lesson, attend at least one virtual group discussion, and submit a project survey by May 14, 2027. Equipment will be picked up by the end of the school year.
  • Students complete a pre- and post-assessment before the first lesson and after the last lesson by May 14, 2027, respectively.

Limited spots are available. Preference will be given to school districts that have not participated previously and to the first teacher in each school district. Consulting fees will be paid out by June 30, 2027.

What subject(s) do you teach that you would use this project for?
Please select all that apply.
We will host a K-12 Energy Benchmarking workshop in Manhattan in September. If selected, which works best? (select all that apply)?
There will be no cost for this event. We plan to reimburse participating teachers for mileage and the cost of hiring a substitute if one is required. Lunch will also be included.
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