Home ›

Education

Share this

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.

Green Team

Student Team
May 7, 2010

An interactive education program for students to learn about energy and then share their knowledge with the rest of the school.

Author: Brad Harder, South Fortuna Elementary School - Fortuna Union Elementary School District

Overview

We have developed an interactive education program for students to learn about energy and then share their knowledge with the rest of the school. Mr. Harder's 4th grade class heads the program called the "Green Team"

Things That Use Electricity

Power lines at dusk
May 7, 2005

In this lesson students work together to identify items that use electricity, and the role they play in every day life. Students conclude by illustrating these objects, while simultaneously practicing their pronunciation to build phonemic awareness.

Author: Liz Henkels, Deer Canyon Elementary School - Alta Loma Unified School District, CA

Overview

Use creative license with a thinking map to draw a colorful electrical cord, and show children the huge number of items we use in our homes that use electricity.

What Is Electrical Energy?

Plugging in an electrical cord
August 11, 2008

In this lesson students learn about electrical energy, and the difference between common items that use electricity, and those that do not. In understanding how and when energy is used, students gain awareness of ways to save energy.

Author: Amy J. Whitehead, Sundance Elementary School - Beaumont Unified School District, CA

Overview

This is an introductory lesson for students who have little knowledge about electricity. The lesson identifies common items that use electrical energy. Following this lesson, young students will be more aware of when they are engaged in an activity that uses electricity.

Add a comment

DC Council Vote is Healthy - and Efficient

Date: May 05, 2010

By passing the Healthy Schools Act, DC City Council raised the bar for student health and wellness, not to mention energy efficiency in DC schools.

On May 4, 2010, DC City Council passed by unanimous vote the Healthy Schools Act, which was introduced by Councilmember Mary M. Che (D-Ward 3) in late April.

The act is widely recognized as a strategy to tackle childhood obesity through healthier school lunches and more school-time exercise.

But the term "healthy" also encompasses a number of environmental initiatives such as school gardens, anti-idling vehicle requirements, and – a favorite of efficiency advocates – district-wide energy reduction targets.

Add a comment

Living Efficiently with Tom: Pipe Insulation

Date: Apr 23, 2010

Pipe Insulation is a quick and easy way to save energy.

Return to the introduction

Because insulating hot water pipes is a pretty quick and easy thing to do (at least where you can get at the pipes), this was one of my first efficiency projects after moving into the house.

Add a comment

Green Schools Results Boost Energy Saving Goals in DC Public Schools

Date: Apr 20, 2010

The "DC Healthy Schools Act" would require better school-lunch nutrition, establish farm-to-school and school garden programs, encourage more physical activity and tackle a range of environmental problems, including energy consumption.

April 20, 2010 – On April 19, the DC Council unanimously voted to preliminarily approve healthy practices in the District of Columbia Public School System (DCPSS) – among them, saving energy. The final vote is scheduled for Tuesday May, 4, 2010.

Students Lead the Way to Save $1.3M in Energy Costs for Southern California School Districts

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
April 14, 2010

Green Schools, an Alliance to Save Energy program funded by Southern California Edison, reported energy savings of over 7.9 million kilowatt hours among the 117 schools involved in the program over the last three years. This amount of electricity savings is equivalent to preventing two tons of CO2 emissions into the environment and saving $1.3 million in energy costs. These savings resulted not from expensive retrofits, but from no-cost behavior and operations changes initiated by students as part of their hands-on learning about energy efficiency.

Southern California, April 14, 2010 – Green Schools, an Alliance to Save Energy program funded by Southern California Edison, reported energy savings of over 7.9 million kilowatt hours among the 117 schools involved in the program over the last three years. This amount of electricity savings is equivalent to preventing two tons of CO2 emissions into the environment and saving $1.3 million in energy costs.

Add a comment

PG&E Hosts Energy Efficiency Training Workshop for Green Campus Interns

Date: Apr 12, 2010

On April 3, 10 Green Campus interns visited Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation’s (PG&E) Pacific Energy Center, where they received energy efficiency training at a special all-day workshop hosted by PG&E.

April 2010
by Wen Lee

April 2010 – PG&E's Pacific Energy Center (PEC) is well-known for its education programs, including training workshops open to the public. Offered free of charge, these workshops teach residents and businesses about new energy efficiency technologies, and show them how to save on energy bills and conduct audits.

Add a comment

Committee Authorizes $3.4 billion for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

Date: Mar 31, 2010

On March 25, the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment favorably reported H.R. 4906, the ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2010, to the full House Science Committee for consideration. The Alliance reports on notable changes to the additional authorization.

March 2010 – On March 25, the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment favorably reported H.R. 4906, the ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2010, to the full House Science Committee for consideration. H.R. 4906 reauthorizes the Department of Energy's highly successful Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) through 2020.

Add a comment

New Unit of Measurement Honors Energy Efficiency Champion

Date: Mar 30, 2010

Saved energy goes by a new name. The Rosenfeld—named after the “father of energy efficiency” Dr. Art Rosenfeld—will help standardize references to “energy saved.” The new unit of measurement was announced in March at a special University of California Davis symposium honoring Dr. Rosenfeld.

There's a new unit of measurement in town.

The Rosenfeld – named after the "father of energy efficiency" Dr. Art Rosenfeld – will help standardize references to “energy saved”, rather than such variable calculations as “avoided powerplants” or “cars off the road.”

It is hoped that, with frequent use, the Rosenfeld will join the Watt and Joule as widely used measurements that not only help evaluate and measure the science to which they apply, but also honor the achievements of their namesakes.

Syndicate content