Matchbook Learning invited to first U.S. Department of Energy White House Summit

Dr. Amy Galloway Swann, CEO of Matchbook Learning, was extended an invitation by the U.S. Department of Energy to attend the first White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds.

The summit took place Friday, April 26, and highlighted equitable access to energy-efficient, climate-resilient, healthy school facilities. 

In 2023, Matchbook Learning received $5.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy grant to create an "energy-efficient career center." The grant, part of the Renew America’s Schools program, centers around bringing clean energy improvements to K-12 public schools across the country.

While the grant money will be used to renovate the buildings into sustainable, energy-efficient facilities, The Match will utilize this opportunity for students to learn from the renovations as part of their STEM pathways.  

The summit’s focus on equity, learning, health and climate led to critical conversations around issues impacting schools and communities.

Swann remarked how the summit “was a remarkable event that brought together various organizations, educators and departments to discuss sustainable solutions for our schools.”

More than 90 students, teachers, advocates, school administrators, facilities and grounds experts and labor leaders came together with key government agencies to discuss deployment of the grant for critical facility and energy improvement funding available for school infrastructure, clean energy and healthy schools.

The summit included highlight stories from schools across America, opportunities for jobs due to the clean energy agenda. It  allowed participants to join an in-person workshop around accessing clean energy tax credits.

Swann said, “It was inspiring to see so many individuals and groups come together to share their ideas and suggestions on how we can make our schools more energy-efficient and sustainable.” 

Portions of the grant have been used to develop The Match High School and Career Center, opening fall of 2024 and authorized by Education One at Trine University, in the Haughville neighborhood, just west of downtown Indianapolis. 

The former manufacturing building, now STEM school building, will serve students from 12 to 18 years of age.  The Match has shared additional building plans for their school, which will serve as a disaster relief center, a community cooling and heating shelter, a shared substation for the police department, as well as educational buildings for the community. 

Matchbook Learning Centers has partnered with Ameresco to refurbish the existing buildings. They will serve as a living laboratory where students will learn in-demand trades, including operations and maintenance of building equipment.

To learn more about Education One and The Match High School and Career Center, visit education1.org