Energy Resources

Reducing energy use, encouraging energy-saving behavior, and purchasing energy efficient appliances conserves our natural resources and can save your school money. This section will help you identify current energy management practices in your school and start you thinking about ways to modify these practices to make your school greener and healthier.

Action and Implementation

Schools qualifying to be a Green & Healthy School must meet the following requirements:

• school must have had an energy audit conducted by Wisconsin Focus on Energy or local energy provider,
• energy is included in the curriculum,
• and students and staff have helped identify and implement behavioral changes and/or use energy saving devices to reduce energy consumption.

The resources below can provide you with ideas on how to meet these requirements.

Reaching Higher

If you choose to go further after your school becomes a Green & Healthy School, the following resources can also be used to help you meet the Reaching Higher requirements.

Focus on Energy Audit

The energy audit provided by the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Schools Program is free of charge to schools. To determine if you are covered by the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Schools Program contact your local energy provider. If you are covered by the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Schools Program contact them at 1-800-762-7077 or by e-mail at Edinfo@focusonenergy.com to schedule an audit. If your school is not covered by the Focus on Energy Schools Program ask your energy provider if they can complete an energy audit for your school or are willing to make other arrangements to have an audit completed by Wisconsin Focus on Energy.

If your school has already participated in a Focus on Energy School Program Audit in the past 3 years, simply fill in the date of the audit on the Green & Healthy Schools application. If the audit was performed more than 3 years ago, schedule another audit.

Teaching

In order to save energy at your school, students need to know how and why they should try to do so. The following web sites contain energy-related lessons and curriculum connections.

• National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) Project [exit DNR]
• National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) - Classroom Info Books [exit DNR] and Activities [exit DNR]
• Alliance to Save Energy Educators [exit DNR]
• School Eco Response Team - Energy Lessons [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) [exit DNR]
• Florida Solar Energy Center - Teacher Resources [exit DNR]
• Project Learning Tree - Energy and Society [exit DNR]

Energy Saving Ideas

There are all kinds of ways you can save energy at your school, from turning off lights and computers in the classroom to installing occupancy and photo sensors. Research some interesting ways your school can reduce its energy consumption. Here are few resources.

• Energy Ideas [exit DNR]
• Peninsula School District Resource Conservation [exit DNR]
• El Paso Solar Energy Association - Energy Tips [exit DNR]
• Energy Star - Exit Signs [exit DNR]
• Watt Watchers of Texas - Projects [exit DNR]
• Taking Action on Conserving Energy [exit DNR]
• Simple Steps for Schools [exit DNR]

Energy Conservation Programs

A comprehensive program includes more than the implementation of few one-time events or programs, it should include changes in everyday behaviors and operations. This may require operational or policy changes within your school. In order to have a successful energy conservation program, the whole school needs to be informed and kept up to date on what they are expected to do to reduce energy consumption within the school. Use some of the energy saving ideas from above to start your energy conservation program and develop a plan or policy to get the whole school involved.

• Key Elements of a Successful Energy Program [exit DNR]

Energy Savings Celebrated and Documented

After implementing some energy saving practices at your school, make sure to document cost or energy savings that were experienced as a result of your school’s efforts. Compare bills from previous years to determine how effective your practices were. Then, make sure to celebrate your school’s accomplishments. When students and staff feel that their efforts are being recognized and are making a difference they will be more inclined to continue.

Community Energy Projects

• a compact light bulb sale,
• energy expo where members of the community come and listen to what students and staff have done in the school to save energy,
• students design energy saving pamphlets/posters/exhibits to share school successes and provide ideas to the community for reducing energy,
• students complete a home energy audit and share results and suggestions for improvements with family members.

Use some of the other resources on this page for ideas or try and come up with your own.

Energy Efficient Designs

Including energy efficient designs in a new school or as part of a renovation not only save lots of energy, but also lots of money. Although energy efficient devices may cost a little more initially, they provide huge cost savings over time. See the following Web sites for some energy-saving design ideas to consider for your new school construction or renovation.

• Green Building Resource List [PDF exit DNR]
• Geothermal Systems - Alliant Energy [exit DNR]
• Rebuild America - Energy Smart School Designs [exit DNR]
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (fee-based, new building projects) [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin Focus on Schools Program [exit DNR]
• Daylighting Programs [exit DNR]
• Sustainable Designs - Energy Resources [exit DNR]