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Saving energy in schools and making energy efficiency a lesson for students is fundamental in shaping a new generation of energy efficiency leaders.

Next Generation's Leaders

Nationwide, schools spend $8 billion per year on energy. To lessen the economic blow and influence the next generation of leaders, the Alliance uses a variety of educational programs to reach students.

PowerSave Schools and the PowerSave Campus Program

Through basic changes in operations, maintenance and individual behavior, PowerSave Schools has reduced energy use by 5-15% among participating schools. PowerSave Schools also encourages students to apply the lessons of energy efficiency in their homes and communities.

The PowerSave Campus Program is leading the way toward green careers and campus sustainability by growing the next generation of energy efficiency professionals.Through PowerSave Campus, students save energy on their campuses by conducting educational outreach; infusing energy conservation and efficiency into course curricula; and implementing projects targeting energy use, student purchasing decisions and operational changes.

Because even the youngest members of a household can be stewards for energy efficiency, the Alliance's mischievous Energy Hog teaches kids about ways they, and their parents, can practice energy efficiency at home.

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Saving Energy, One Campus at a Time

Date: Jun 24, 2010

At 16 college campuses across California, students are educating  their campus communities about the benefits of energy efficiency through our Green Campus Program.

At 22 college campuses across California, students are educating their campus communities about the benefits of energy efficiency through our Green Campus Program.

These are Green Campus interns, employed by the Alliance to help save energy at campuses in California. They work with faculty, staff, administrators and other campus organizations, often influencing operational practices such as purchasing decisions while also saving their schools significant amounts of energy and money.

To Conserve or Not to Conserve

December 10, 2008

In this lesson, students present original ideas about how energy is wasted at home/at work and develop/present a program on how to conserve energy in a specific area. Although the sources used to create this lesson are outdated, there are still many great data-collection charts and thought-provoking experiments.

OBJECTIVES

The student will do the following.

  1. Present his/her own ideas of how energy is wasted at home and at work.
  2. Analyze information on ways to conserve energy.
  3. Develop and present a program on how to save energy in a specific area.

SUBJECTS

General Science, Physical Science

TIME

5+ class periods

MATERIALS

Each student sheet (included) identifies specific materials and requirements for the completion of the activity.

Conservation for the Ages

May 5, 2009

In this project based lesson plan, developed by a Green Schools teacher, students in grades 9-12 learn about various types of energy and the need to conserve energy, write a children's story about saving energy, and read their energy books to elementary students.

  • Author: Terry Blanke, Eisenhower High School - Rialto Unified School District, California
  • Subjects: English and Technology
  • Grades: 9 - 12

Brief Description

Students will learn about various types of energy and the need to conserve energy, write a children's story about saving energy and apply their knowledge by reading their energy books to elementary students.

Energy Efficiency Ambassadors

April 5, 2007

By Terry Blanke, Eisenhower High School, Rialto Unified School District, CA
In this project based lesson, developed by a Green Schools teacher, students in grades 9-12 research energy conservation devices, build a demonstration project incorporating a device, and display it at an elementary science fair.

  • Author: Terry Blanke, Eisenhower High School - Rialto Unified School District, California
  • Subject: Science, English and Technology
  • Grades: 9 - 12

Brief Description

Students research energy conservation devices, build a demonstration project (light efficiency) incorporating a device or apparatus, and display and present it at an elementary science fair night for parents.

Exploring a Teaching Career Through an Energy Lesson

June 14, 2009

In this project based lesson, developed by a Green Schools teacher, students in grades 9-12 research energy and the need for conservation, develop a lesson plan on energy for elementary students and teach the lesson.

Alliance to Save Energy's Green Schools Program High School Lesson Plans

  • Author: Terry Blanke, Eisenhower High School Rialto Unified School District, California
  • Subject: Science, English and Technology
  • Grades: 9-12

Brief Description

Students research energy and the need for conservation, develop a lesson plan on energy for elementary students and teach the lessons at an elementary school.

Watt Does It Cost to Use It?

September 9, 2009

In this lesson, developed by a Green Schools teacher, students in grades 7-12 learn how electrical usage is counted and priced and measure and evaluate representative household and school electrical items.

Author: Mark Ziesmer, Sultana High School - Hesperia Unified School District, California

Overview

Familiarize students with how electrical usage is counted, electrical pricing, and measure and evaluate representative household and school electrical items.

Objectives

Students will:

Energy Savings Activities - Lighting

September 20, 2007

By the Green Schools team at Fortuna Middle School, Fortuna Union Elementary School District, CA
In this lesson, students in grade 8 use the scientific method to examine school lighting technologies and determine if there are opportunities to save energy and money.

Author: Kent Willis, 8th grade teacher, vice principal; Rex Rigney, Humboldt State Univ. student; Robert Wilson, custodian - Fortuna Middle School, California

Sustainability Project

Sustainable home
October 16, 2009

In this lesson, students will be exposed to a variety of alternative energy sources and will learn how to calculate the equipment needed for an average household. The assignment is completed on a wiki webpage.

Stephen Chitraroff, Murrieta Valley High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District

Overview

Students will select an alternative energy source for home energy or for transportation energy. The project will be completed on a wiki where other students must review and answer questions.

A Day in the Life

Home power meter
October 16, 2009

Students will practice simple data collection, tabulation, graphing, and analysis through designing a conservation plan. Students will also study the laws of thermodynamics. To do this level at any level requires information on typical energy usages of common appliances. Advanced students are also asked to adjust costs for different rates.

David Marrett, Murrieta High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District

Overview

Students practice simple data collection, tabulation, graphing, and analysis in this energy awareness exercise. Next, they design a conservation plan. Finally, they study how to implement the plan.

Laura Van Wie

Vice President, International Programs
Contact Email: 
lvanwie@ase.org

Laura Van Wie McGrory, Vice President of International Programs, manages a range of international energy efficiency projects and policy studies across all energy use sectors.

Laura Van Wie
Phone: 
443-934-2279
Address: 
1850 M Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
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