Des Moines Public Schools

Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) is the largest provider of public education in Iowa, with more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 teachers and staff at work in more than 60 schools throughout the community. DMPS is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Climate Communications recognition for its commitment to educating district employees, leadership, students, members of the community, and outside organizations about the impacts of climate change. Key 2014 accomplishments include:

• Using its scale and reach to influence the energy actions of citizens and other employers in the area through ongoing communication efforts as the fifth largest employer in Des Moines.
• Providing extensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) instruction that incorporates the impacts of climate change through its role as educators.
• Developing a climate communication plan to inform both internal and external audiences about energy strategies and results to raise awareness; to build capacity within the district to ensure a successful program that motivates staff, students, and the greater community; and to document and monitor progress.
• Using multiple methods to raise awareness about energy conservation, ENERGY STAR, and the Earth’s changing climate. Ongoing communication efforts include the distribution of the Energy Poster, Energy Report Cards, Energy Email Tips, as well as communicating about ENERGY STAR participation and achievements.
• Using a variety of media outlets to reach the Des Moines media market of 420,000 people, including print and television media (Des Moines Register and KCCI news), and seven DMPS-produced news articles (DMPS-TV reaches more than 61,000 households); six billboards which garner 2.2 million impressions; and social media (DMPS has more than 28,000 social media followers).
• Writing and issuing press releases and blog posts about several energy efficiency and climate change connections, including topics such as their three schools that were top finishers in the 2013 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition (announced in 2014).
• Continuing to hold biweekly energy meetings with the DMPS Energy Team to continue their focus on energy efficiency and protecting the climate. One achievement in 2014 includes the completion of two geothermal projects, bringing the total number of schools using geothermal to 35 schools.