ComEd Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment

ComEd

The Challenge

Under Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), ComEd needed to help 3,000+ public K-12 schools—many in environmental justice communities (EJCs)—overcome aging infrastructure, limited budgets, and lack of technical resources to move toward carbon-free operations by 2050.

Our Solution

Michaels Energy partnered with ComEd to design and implement the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment (PSCFA)—a free, comprehensive facility assessment program providing each school with a clear roadmap to decarbonization. Each PSCFA includes:

Energy efficiency and electrification opportunities
Solar potential and electrical service needs
Health and safety improvements (WELL Building guidance)
Support for grants and third-party funding

Michaels leads program management, engineering, marketing, and outreach, collaborating with technical partners to deliver tailored assessments and hands-on support.

Marketing & Outreach Approach

To maximize participation, Michaels executes targeted campaigns and on-the-ground engagement:

Multichannel campaigns (email, social, direct mail) to drive awareness
Community partnerships (IASBO, ISBE, and local organizations) to expand reach
Video storytelling from participating schools to build trust and credibility
Continuous improvement—data-driven adjustments to boost conversion rates

All deliverables undergo full QA/QC review in ComEd’s software platform, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and ease of collaboration.

The Results

800+ schools served since launch
40% participation from EJCs annually
1,331M kWh in identified savings; 519M kWh in EJCs
318 projects implemented, cutting nearly 6,400 tons of CO₂
Healthier learning environments for students and staff

Client Feedback

“Working with Michaels Energy as the Implementation contractor for the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment (PSCFA) program at ComEd has been a very positive experience. Michaels Energy’s technical and background utility knowledge base has been instrumental in both meeting our required program deliverables and delivering a product to our customers that clearly communicates all the ways we can help them both within our program’s portfolio and externally. I would not hesitate to work with Michaels Energy as an implementation contractor in the future.”

—Eric Iversen, Senior Program Manager, ComEd