Education

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.

Merrilee Harrigan

Vice President, Education

Contact Email:

mharrigan@ase.org

Merrilee Harrigan, Vice President for Education, has directed the Alliance's educational programs for 20 years. Her accomplishments include developing the Alliance’s successful PowerSave Schools and PowerSave Campus Programs and directing their implementation in seven states and India, Ghana and Serbia.

Phone:

202-530-2215

Address:

1850 M Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036

Daylighting Increases Learning 20-26 Percent New Study Shows

Date:

November 27, 1999

Student test scores improved as much as 20 percent in math and 26 percent in reading as a result of maximum exposure to daylight in their classrooms, according to a study presented today to the Alliance to Save Energy's School Energy Efficiency Task Force. Lisa Heschong of the Heschong-Mahone Group explained her study of over 21,000 student records before a groundbreaking meeting of key leaders from major education groups. The study is the latest in a growing body of research linking academic achievement to high performance, energy-efficient schools.

Topics: Education
Programs: PowerSave Schools Program

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California Green Campus Programs Awarded for Best Practices in Energy Efficiency, Sustainability

Date: Jun 17, 2010

Green Campus interns sweep up awards at the 9th annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Read about the winning initiatives that earned four California programs accolades for best practices in energy efficiency and sustainability.

For the sixth year in a row, Green Campus interns dominated the 9th annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference, with three campuses receiving Best Practices in Student Energy Efficiency awards, and one campus receiving the Best Practices in Student Sustainability award. Each campus will give a formal presentation about their projects at the conference, which takes place June 20 – 23 at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

Here's a peek at the winning schools and their energy-saving projects:

Jo Tiffany

Senior Director, Education

Contact Email:

jtiffany@ase.org

Jo Tiffany joined the Alliance in 2004 and is currently Senior Director of Education. Working out of the Alliance’s Oakland, Calif., office, Jo has directed and grown the PowerSave Schools (K-12) and PowerSave Campus (higher education) programs in California. This includes overseeing Alliance California staff and sub-contractors, direction of program implementation and development and building collaborative relationships with program funders, school faculty and administrators, facilities managers and other key stakeholders.

Phone:

510-451-4056

Address:

1624 Franklin Street, Suite P, Oakland, CA, 94612

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2010 Stars of Energy Efficiency Award Winners

Date: Jun 08, 2010

Now in its 18th year, the Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner has become a highly anticipated event in the energy efficiency community, typically drawing more than 500 energy leaders from industry, government and academia. With an ever-increasing global demand for energy, there has never been a greater time to pause and recognize the efforts of those working to advance energy efficiency.

Charles H. Percy Award for Public Service: S. Richard (Rick) Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

This is the Alliance's most prestigious award. It is presented to an individual in the public or private sector in recognition of an outstanding public service contribution and/or a lifetime commitment to energy efficiency.

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Sen. Udall Proposes the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act

Date: May 19, 2010

America’s 17,450 K-12 school districts spend in excess of $6 billion on their energy bills a year, totaling more than they currently spend on computers and textbooks combined.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), America’s 17,450 K-12 school districts spend in excess of $6 billion on their energy bills a year, totaling more than they currently spend on computers and textbooks combined. And although there exist a variety of federal programs that help schools reduce their energy use, there has yet to be one that assists schools in seeking out those programs.

EE Global 2010

May 10, 2010 - 8:00am - May 12, 2010 - 7:00am

Washington, District Of Columbia

Why is it so hot when I sit next to the window? (K-5)

Why is it So Hot When I Sit Next to the Window.pdf

May 7, 2010

In this project based lesson plan, developed by a veteran Green Schools teacher, students in grades K-5 learn how glass can transmit energy and how applying different tints to the window can reduce the heat passing through the window.

By Jeff Saks, Bemis Elementary School
Rialto Unified School District, California

Essential Question: What does data tell us about the energy use in our school? What data-based recommendations for saving energy make the most sense and the most impact for our school given what the data shows?

Overview:

Students apply window film to various windows, take temperature measurements, and graph their findings.

Objectives: Students will..

Topics: Education, Windows
Programs: PowerSave Schools Program
Resource Type: Primary K - 2, Elementary 3 - 5, Lesson Plans, Road Map 3, Road Map 11

Science Fair with an Energy Efficiency Flair

May 7, 2010

The objective of this lesson is to get the Energy Conservation message out to our entire community by organizing a school-wide Science Fair with an emphasis on Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Education.

Author: Mrs. Laura Honda, Manor School - Ross Valley School District, California

Overview

To get the Energy Conservation message out to our entire community by organizing a school-wide Science Fair with an emphasis on Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Education.

Topics: Education, Evaluation Measurement & Verification, Utilities and Distribution
Programs: PowerSave Schools Program
Resource Type: Lesson Plans

Crafting Models of Efficiency

May 7, 2010

The objective of this lesson is to allow students to use their knowledge on energy and creativity to build energy efficient and non-energy efficient cardboard classroom models. Thus, providing a visual comparison between energy efficient and non-energy efficient classroom models.

Author: Laura Honda, Manor School - Ross Valley School District, California

Overview

Allowing students to use their knowledge on energy and creativity to build energy efficient and non-energy efficient cardboard classroom models. Thus, providing a visual comparison between energy efficient and non-energy efficient classroom models.

Topics: Education
Programs: PowerSave Schools Program
Resource Type: Lesson Plans