This document provides instructions for conducting an energy conservation project at a school to help students learn while also saving energy. The project involves students researching topics like the environmental impacts of coal power, collecting energy usage data through temperature readings and electricity monitors, surveying staff about usage, analyzing the data, developing a conservation strategy, presenting findings, and calculating potential savings. The goal is for students to take a hands-on role in assessing a school's energy usage and devising a plan to reduce consumption and costs.

1. How to save the environment
one school at a time with an energy conservation project.
©2012 by Laura Davis

2. What’s the big deal about
conserving heat and electricity?

3. p er
k ee
s a
e it’
us
ca
Be

4. Coal-fired power plants

5. generate 71% of Colorado’s electricity.

6. The toxins from these power plants

7. Can cause heart and lung disease

8. and exacerbate global warming.

9. At last inspection, Colorado’s coal-fired electric plants
were cited with violating the Clean Water Act

10. 86 times

11. And fined $0

12. Warning
Conserve electricity and heat

13. Why conserve heat?

14. Among commercial buildings,
education buildings are the
3rd highest consumers of
energy. On average, 36% of
that energy is electricity and
40% comes from natural gas.

15. Why conserve natural gas?

16. One reason is, its impact on the environment.

17. Natural gas is mostly methane,
a potent greenhouse gas.

18. Wastewater from shale gas production is not yet regulated.

19. Some natural gas is produced by “fracking”, a
practice that concerns many.

20. Conserving energy means lower utility bills!
$$$$$
$$$$$ $$$$
$$$$$ $$$$
$$$$$ $$$$
$$$$$ $$$$
Before After

21. ity
til ??
u ll
bi
Wouldn’t you rather spend your money
on something else?

22. Recap: why is it important to conserve heat and electricity?
It has an impact on our environment, our health, and our budgets.

23. As teachers, we can cause a reduction in energy consumption,
one school at a time...

24. While our students learn
& practice these skills:
• teamwork
• research
• data collection
• critical thinking
• presenting

25. What you’ll need:
• Students (7th - 12th grade)
• Infrared laser thermometers
• Watts-up or kill-a-watt meters
• Plenty of time

26. How much of our electricity is
generated by burning coal????
First get them interested with
“energy quizzes” & sharing
factoids about our energy usage.

27. Next, in small groups or pairs,
have them research relevant topics.

28. One topic can be the effects of
coal mining on the environment,
public health, and the economy.

29. One topic can be the effects of coal-
fired power plants on the environment,
public health, and the economy.

30. One group can research natural gas
production, use, and impact on our economy.

31. One group can research global warming
as it relates to energy consumption.

32. One group can research conservation
strategies that other schools have used.

33. One group can learn how to use the equipment
and then teach the other students.

34. Data
small collec
group tion c
, or b an be
y the plann
class ed by
as a w a
hole.

35. It helps to map out the building
and decide how to get a sampling

36. The students take
temperature readings.
Differences between interior
and exterior walls can give an
indication of how well the
building is insulated.

37. They need to carefully record the
data, noting location, time of day,
outside temperature and weather.

38. The kill-a-watt meters provide data about
energy usage. The students can connect it to
an entire power strip in an office area, a single
computer, or any other electrical device.

39. They need to carefully record the data,
noting location, length of time it was
connected and any other relevant notes.

40. Once all the hard data has been
collected, the students can
depict it with charts or graphs.
200
150
100
0 5 10 15 20 50
0

41. They can also look at historical utility data. Students use this data to
determine average price per kilowatt hour and btu or therm.

42. The next step is to conduct a survey of
faculty and staff asking them how many
electrical devices they use and how they
would conserve energy in the building.

43. Energy usage can be reduced by 10% just by
getting people to track their energy consumption.

44. Next, students analyze the “soft data” from the
survey, and “hard data” from the utility records,
temperature recordings, and kill-a-watt meters.

45. They talk about the data and devise an energy conservation strategy for the school.

46. The strategy might include behavioral changes
or installation of energy efficient equipment.

47. Next it’s time to present their findings. How they present and to whom, is up to
you. They could make a video, posters, oral presentation, written presentation...

48. Now it’s time to celebrate, calculate the future
savings and think about how to spend it!

49. Recap!
This project is student-driven according to the students’ skill level.
1. Get students thinking about the relevance of energy consumption in the U.S.
2. Students collect hard data with temperature readings and with kill-a-watt or watts-up meters.
3. Students survey custodians, teachers, and other students about energy usage in the building.
4. Students represent the data visually.
5. Students analyze their data along with past utility data.
6. Students devise an energy conservation strategy for the school.
7. Students calculate potential savings using average cost per kilowatt hour and therm.
8. Students present their findings and their strategy to classmates, principal, and/or school board.

50. Image credits
The images in slides 1, 2, 9, 10, 14, 24, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, & 47 were created by Laura Davis.
Mariacasa Creative Commons License slide 48.
Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas A&M Creative Commons License slide 35
Ecopolitologist Creative Commons License slide 30
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Creative Commons License slide 28
jamesbastow Creative Commons License slide 25
Mark Florence Creative Commons License slide 25
kjarrett Creative Commons License slide 23
lostinmiami Creative Commons License slide 21
ymagnet Creative Commons License slide 21
Jamie McEwan Creative Commons License slide 21
Sean MacEntee Creative Commons License slide 21
MoneyBlogNewz Creative Commons License slide 20
ryancboren Creative Commons License slide 7
danielfoster437 Creative Commons License slide 15
Public Domain Photos Creative Commons License slides 4-7
_rockinfree Creative Commons License slide 13
wollombi Creative Commons License slide 19
ProgressOhio Creative Commons License slide 19
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Creative Commons License slide 17
Sage Ross Creative Commons License slide 16
Dallas 1200am Creative Commons License slides 49, 22, 8, 1
Celisa B.M. Serra Creative Commons License slide 3
hobvias sudoneigm Creative Commons License slide 21
peggydavis66 Creative Commons License slide 29
Beat King Creative Commons License slide 31
davidshutter Creative Commons License slide 8
deven.laney Creative Commons License slide 18
SuSanA Secretariat Creative Commons License slides 11, 12
google maps slides 5, 6