Green Schools: Collaborative Approach To Energy Problem Solving EPA Environmental Summit May 9, 2006

What Is Green Schools? School Energy Efficiency Process Emphasizes the “why’s” of taking energy efficient action Combines instruction and facilities Based on planning by cross-functional teams Involves students in school and community Funds returned as a consequence of behavior

Where Did the Green Schools Program Come From? Need: Public schools spend $8 billion/year on energy More than books & computers combined Research: An energy efficiency retrofit will not realize its full potential without an educated user. Because people use energy in buildings!

What’s the Alliance to Save Energy? 28-year old bi-partisan coalition Business Non-profit Public interest/consumer Government Focus Research Policy Education

Connecting Energy Efficiency to Schools’ Core Business Instructional and thematic planning Interdisciplinary Hands-on, inquiry-based, and cooperative learning opportunities

Where are Green Schools? California Maryland New York State—Rochester!

Instructional & Thematic Planning Each school team plans activities in instruction, behavior, and involvement. Plans are integrated with the sequence of instruction. Plans are coordinated with events during the school year.

Interdisciplinary Studying energy efficiency naturally touches: Science Properties of heat and electricity, definitions of energy, etc. Math Calculating energy savings, estimating, converting units, etc. Social Studies Energy history (consumption, fuel sources, etc.), laws and regulations, social responsibility, social impacts of changes in energy sources and environmental effects, etc.

Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Effects of energy production, consumption, inefficiency, disposal, etc. Technology Machines that convert fuel to useful energy, etc. Language Arts Reading, vocabulary, letter writing, oral communications, public displays, etc.

Hands-On, Inquiry-Based Examples Students surveyed their own homes to find out what energy sources they use. They shared information with classmates, pooled data, and generated graphs. Students compared temperatures in different parts of their classroom and discovered the factors affecting temperatures at the windows, doors, and walls. Students identified windows as the source of their greatest discomfort. They researched their options and decided as a group to make window quilts to cuts drafts and keep room temperature constant.

Service Learning and Project- Based Learning Service learning: taking what students know and sharing it in the community Examples: Energy efficiency auditing local buildings (e.g., a church) Public presentations on energy efficiency in buildings for other students (peer learning) and community organizations Project-based learning Examples: School newsletter on Green Schools and the environment School-wide energy conference

Results in Philadelphia Green Schools Operations/behavior savings at almost every school Average 11% in Philadelphia pilot schools Savings returned to schools as a consequence, not a reward. During pilot year: ~$30,000 saved at ML King High Schools (received 40% back or $12,000) ~$10,000 saved at Prince Hall Elementary during first year (received back 40% or $4,000)

Results Student leadership in real-world problem-solving Improved communications among team members; improved school functioning Integrated learning