Energy use is a world-wide concern.
Everyone, including school communities, has an important role to play in increasing awareness of energy issues and improving energy efficiency. Our Autumn 2006 newsletter has more information on this topic.
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The Big Picture
The impact of energy use
The amount of energy the world uses every day has trebled over the last century. To keep up with the growing global demand for energy to heat and light our homes and power our industries, power stations are burning more and more fossil fuels. As well as using up finite natural resources, this process is releasing increasing volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the gas most responsible for global climate change – into the atmosphere.
The extra CO2 released over the last half-century has been linked to a
rise in the average global temperature of half a degree Celsius. This
may not seem like much, but the global temperature was only 2.5 degrees
Celsius warmer 120,000 years ago when hippos and crocodiles swam in the
River Thames in the south of England.
The exact nature of the effects of global warming, including rising sea levels (caused by melting ice caps) and climate change, are unclear and they are likely to vary from place to place. Parts of southern Europe may become so warm that their tourist industry suffers. In the UK, it is thought that global warming will result in extreme weather patterns and severe flooding, particularly in the south of England and East Anglia.
Energy inequality
Energy use is not distributed equally. The 20% of the world's population who live in the richest countries consume, on average, 17 times as much energy as the remaining 80%. Whereas people in 'developed' countries generally use far more energy than they need, developing countries urgently need access to more fossil fuels in order to reduce poverty and improve their economies.
Energy in Scotland
The energy industry in Scotland is currently based mainly on non-renewable sources including gas, oil, coal and uranium.
Although Scotland is one of the best countries in Europe for renewable
energy potential, only a tiny percentage of Scotland's energy needs is
currently met by renewable sources (ie sources that can be renewed or
replenished). The Scottish Government has, however, proposed a target
of generating 40% of Scotland's energy from renewable sources by 2020.
What can schools do?
What steps can schools take?
The most important first step that schools can take is to conduct an energy audit; setting targets for reducing unnecessary energy use and regularly monitoring consumption. The outcomes of the audit might include switching off lights and devices more often and buying energy-saving bulbs. Use the Eco-Schools Scotland Environmental Review to help you do this.
Advice and support
A successful, comprehensive energy review will require teamwork and cooperation. A school will need to involve the help and support of pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff and organisations within your local area.
Your caretaker or janitor will play a key role in eny energy audit the school wishes to undertake. Other useful organisations to approach will include your local authority and local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.
The Useful Local Contacts section of this website contains further helpful information,and our Activities pages have additional ideas for you to try.
Has your school had a great idea for reducing energy consumption? If so, why not share it with everyone in our Forum?
Energy - Eco-Schools Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Objectives
- to raise awareness of the importance of monitoring energy consumption by regularly tracking the school's use of gas, electricity or oil.
- to make pupils aware of the link between energy supply, use and the potential for environmental damage.
- to make pupils aware of the link between energy use and financial cost.
- to establish partnerships with energy providers; helping to put into place effective energy-saving measures.
- to show that simple, low- or no-cost measures to conserve energy can be effective and bring about significant savings.
- to consider using alternative sources of energy.
Learning Outcomes
Through work on energy, pupils should be enabled to:
- discuss the importance of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- understand the processes of energy transfer and conservation.
- carry out an audit of energy use in the school.
- suggest ways to make the school more energy-efficient.
- collect, interpret and present data in different forms, using ICT where appropriate.
- make presentations on reducing energy consumption to different audiences, such as other pupils, parents and the local community.
- work co-operatively with others.
