Sibford School - Energy

PROJECT

Why did you decide to undertake this project (i.e. Particular issue in school or part of a larger campaign) and what aims did you have starting out?

To encourage pupils in the school to conserve energy throughout the winter months. To raise awareness amongst the pupils and staff of energy wastage, through implementing the Switch Off Fortnight Campaign and through Goodbye Standby.  Our aim was to save energy, and to find out how much we could save when the whole school was working towards the same goal.

ACTION

How was the project delivered and was it integrated into the curriculum?

Switch off Fortnight was launched to the whole school by our Environmental representatives Yrs 7-13 in Assembly. Reps in each tutor group took responsibility for monitoring the lights, doors and windows in their tutor base to save energy.

Northmoor Trust visited the school with the Energy Bus to promote energy saving, this was well received by the pupils. They also attended workshops on energy conservation.

CHALLENGES

Did you have to overcome any challenges to make the project succeed?

Our school is very old and we have a number of electricity meters in obscure places. It is not possible to centralise the meters for ease of reading for the students. Sixth form students worked with the Business Manager to ensure that accurate readings were taken and interpreted.

PUPIL LEADERSHIP

How did you get the children involved? How did they have ownership?

Environmental reps read the meters for both weeks of Switch Off Fortnight and fed the information to the Business Manager to interpret the savings from week one to week two of the campaign. The Env. Reps researched where energy is wasted in the school by conducting an energy audit and took photos to show where energy is wasted.

They then presented these in full school assembly reporting to the pupils and teachers where energy is wasted and how this could be improved. Sixth Form reps held a competition for all pupils to submit a design for a postcard sized poster to encourage people to switch off lights when not needed. Prizes of wind up torches were awarded in Full school assembly.

The postcards have now been laminated by the students and put up above every light switch in the school.

RESULT

How have the children benefitted from the project and any other benefits for the school (reduced costs, cleaner school etc)?  Please include any figures and analysis if appropriate.

We were all amazed that we had saved a total of 23% of electricity during week two of the campaign. The pupils are still very proactive in conserving energy.

RESOURCES

Did you use any educational resources such as The Pod (If yes, indicate which activities), receive any support from parents, staff and outside agencies?  Did you have to source funding for the project?

yes the school used two activities on The Pod website, Switch off Fortnight and Goodbye Standby

LESSONS LEARNED

What advice would you give to schools that want to follow in your footsteps?

It is definitely worth inspiring the pupils to save energy both for the environment and the school cash flow! Pupils were so involved in the campaign that we found ourselves walking along dark corridors – not great for health and safety though.

NEXT STEPS

Has this project driven other Eco-Schools ideas and what is the school working on next?

We are planning to work on a Water conservation project. Pupils will carry out an audit on how we can improve our conservation of water usage in all areas of the school.

Posted: 11th May 2010

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