Spotlight on Lindsay Interns: Students Lead the Way on Campus Energy Audits
This spring, nine high school students in Lindsay Unified School District (Lindsay) joined a growing movement of youth-led climate action. Through CAPS paid internship programming, these students conducted walk audits at five of the district’s eight campuses.
The interns identified energy-saving opportunities through the walk audit process, building the foundation for long-term sustainability improvements. "While we were auditing the plug load at the school sites, I was surprised by the amount of stuff plugged in,” said Miriam Hernandez, one of the interns who participated in the walk audit. “A lot of it was unnecessary and wasteful, especially while students are on spring break."
Hands-On Learning
With training from CAPS leadership, over the course of three intensive days during spring break, interns assessed classroom and building conditions by checking thermostats, lighting types, plug loads, and the functionality of motion sensors. They used light meters to measure brightness and interviewed custodial staff to understand real-time challenges with HVAC and lighting systems. These assessments mark the first phase of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 1 Energy Audit—a key step in building decarbonization. "It was interesting to learn about the different types of lighting fixtures and mounting, and how our schools don't have just one type of fixture and mounting, but three to eight different types," said intern Lezly Martinez.
Interns are currently organizing their findings and preparing to obtain district utility data. Together, these data sets will allow them to calculate each school's Energy Usage Intensity (EUI)—a metric that will inform targeted recommendations in a final report. That report will be presented to district staff and the school board later this summer. “This walk audit definitely opened my eyes to what needs to be improved in our schools,” said intern Anselmo Bernal.
Saving Money and Energy in Districts Across the State
The Lindsay intern team, supported by the SoCal Climate Champions initiative, will continue their work through a four-week summer intensive. Meeting Monday through Thursday, they’ll analyze data, research energy-saving solutions, and lead a districtwide energy conservation campaign that encourages unplugging devices, turning off lights, and promoting simple, high-impact behavior changes.
CAPS began working with Lindsay in 2022, providing engineering expertise to support the district’s CalSHAPE grant. The internship program launched in November 2024, expanding CAPS’ partnership with the district to include student leadership. Developed in collaboration with district leaders, the program aligns with state education goals, workforce development pathways, and climate resilience planning.
By connecting energy management with real-world learning and leadership, CAPS is helping school districts across California harness the power of youth to advance climate-smart solutions—on campus and beyond.