The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership has ranked the Austin Independent School District No. 1 in its list of the top 20 Green Powered Schools.

Round Rock Independent School District was a close second on the list.

The EPA looked at primary and secondary schools nationwide that use the most power from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and low-impact hydropower.

The EPA said that together these top schools are buying nearly 113 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, equivalent to carbon dioxide emissions from generating electricity for 11,000 American homes for one year.

“Our green-powered schools are giving kids a brighter future in more ways than one. They’re leading the way in protecting our health and environment, and moving the country into the clean energy economy of the 21st century,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “This is a great lesson on how we reduce harmful pollution in our skies and get America running on clean energy.”

The top five schools using the greenest power are:

• 1 — Austin Independent School District

• 2 — Round Rock Independent School District

• 3 — Rochester City School District, Rochester, N.Y.

• 4 — Bullis School, Potomac, Md.

• 5 — The Dalton School, New York, N.Y.

Info from Austin Business Journal.  Thanks, ABJ!