Inside a Sequoia Union High School District Energy Facility
Hi! I’m Chiara Luey, a rising senior at Crystal Springs Uplands School, and this summer, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to intern with Peninsula Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action alongside my partner, Sami Khalak, a rising senior at Carlmont High School. Together, we’ve been diving deep into the intersections of clean energy, policy, and climate infrastructure, and last week, I got to tour the behind-the-scenes systems that power one of the largest local school districts: Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD).
From the outside, schools might look the same year to year. But once you peek into the facility plans, you realize just how much thoughtful, climate-forward change is quietly happening.
Energy That Talks Back
One of the first things we learned was how SUHSD is tackling its outdated, leak-prone gravel roofs. They're being replaced with white reflective, insulated roofs made by Garland. These new roofs don’t just look cleaner but they reflect heat, reduce energy use, and even come with 30-year watertight warranties! It struck me how something as basic as a roof could make such a difference—not just in energy savings but in resilience, safety, and even learning conditions (have you ever tried concentrating in a stuffy classroom during a heatwave?).
I’ve always been excited about solar, but what impressed me most was that SUHSD isn’t just installing panels; they’re pairing them with live energy dashboards. These systems don’t just tell you how many kilowatts are being produced. They show real-time data on air quality, weather, and energy trends, and they’re even exportable to Excel.
As a student advocate, I see huge potential here. This is curriculum-ready data. Imagine if every student had access to the solar data from their own school and could use it in science or math class. This could be an amazing opportunity to improve climate literacy among students and teachers alike.
We also got to hear about the district’s growing electric school bus fleet. Right now, they have five electric buses and five chargers, and with help from PG&E, they’re installing 20 more chargers. PG&E is even covering half the cost of that infrastructure. As someone who spends a significant amount of time thinking about emissions and energy systems, I can’t overstate the importance of seeing a district actively electrifying its transportation. School buses might seem small, but every tailpipe emits countless pollutants.
A Building That Breathes Smarter
Inside the schools, things are just as intentional. SUHSD uses a centralized system called Schneider StructureWare to regulate HVAC and lighting across campuses. Classrooms stay between 68°F and 74°F, and there are door sensors that shut off heating or cooling if a door’s left open too long. That’s the kind of small, smart fix that adds up quickly in energy savings, and it’s easy for students to understand and appreciate. Sami and I both noted how this system could be a model for other schools. Sustainability isn’t just about technology; it’s about thoughtful design through mindful infrastructure.
Additionally, all campuses are moving toward LED lighting, from classrooms to stadiums. But one fun detail we learned: theatrical lights cost about $2,600 each. That’s right. One light. That made me realize how layered the transition to sustainability really is. Even when schools want to “go green,” it takes strategic budgeting, especially for specialty spaces like auditoriums. Still, every new building now comes LED-equipped from the start, a sign of just how much sustainability is being built into the bones of new construction.
One of the biggest transitions ahead? Moving from gas boilers to electric heat pumps. But it’s not as simple as swapping one out. These changes require major electrical upgrades, plus structural reinforcements, especially in older buildings.It’s important to realize that climate wins aren’t just shiny EV’s they are impactful changes in our pipes and wires. Some of the most important wins have to be made in our walls and floors..
The district is also working to meet SB 1383 composting mandates by adding green bins across campuses. But there are real challenges: contamination, limited custodial capacity, and the difficulty of keeping student-led recycling programs going year to year. I’ve personally worked on composting programs before, and this part really resonated. It’s one thing to start a program but building a system that survives after you graduate? That’s where it gets hard and that’s where adult infrastructure matters most.
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. The facilities team is stretched thin, working with limited staff, tight summer construction windows, and complex union negotiations. But what stood out to me is how committed they are to improving our schools in a climate-conscious way.
So What’s Next?
SUHSD’s long-term vision is incredibly exciting: integrated systems for lighting, solar, HVAC, pools, and water all tied together with dashboards and data. It’s about making every school not just greener, but smarter, more resilient, and more connected.
For Sami and I, this tour was a real look at how climate action happens in practice. These aren’t theoretical solutions. They’re real systems, powering real campuses, for real students. And they’re being driven by people who care.
Huge thank you to the Sequoia Union High School District facilities team for your time and openness, and to Peninsula Clean Energy, SVYCA, and our mentor Anjuli Mishra for making this learning experience possible. We left feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to keep working for a future where every school leads by example.