The National Environment Education Foundation recently announced that three high schools were chosen for the organization's Sustainable Energy Award.

Among the schools selected were Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy in Erie, Pennsylvania; Boston Latin School in Boston; and Secondary Academy for Success in Bothell, Washington.

"The schools serve as examples for others in the nation seeking to become more sustainable, while engaging students in learning about their environment," said Diane Wood, president of NEEF. "We congratulate everyone involved at the winning schools, including students, teachers, staff, parents and other members of the school communities, for their innovative approaches and solutions to energy-efficiency."

The schools were selected by a panel of judges after a nationwide search. The chosen schools demonstrated a school-wide effort to achieve energy savings through technology. Projects at the schools ranged from energy audits to improving ventilation control.

According to statistics cited by NEEF, the nation's 17,450 K-12 school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy, and some of these dollars could be spent in other areas to enhance student education.

Other events are being held around the country to educate people about the benefits of green energy, including one in Pennsylvania, where a conference is being planned at Phipps Conservatory to reveal new renewable energy technology.