Working with schools for sustainability

Advice

We can provide support and advice to schools looking to save energy and water, and help reduce climate change.   

Teacher Energy Saving Talks (TESTs)

Energy Awareness Officers are working closely with Wirral schools to deliver energy saving messages. By visiting schools on a regular basis and talking to children and teachers the most up to date energy saving messages are delivered.

The Teacher Energy Saving Talks are very popular; they include a full presentation tailored for each school. The presentation and follow on talk engages with the teachers and demonstrates how savings can be made in real money terms. 

Schools are strategically placed to take advantage of the strong links between staff, pupils, parents and the wider community. Engaging pupils in saving energy is an excellent opportunity to translate global concerns into local action.  

By starting an energy awareness programme, to understand and meet the needs of your school, you could make savings of at least 10%. Cost savings from reducing energy can be reinvested into other aspects of the school.

Pupils… Get Involved

It's your school too! Get involved in saving energy, make a display board or have an energy saving assembly. You could also have pupils volunteer to become energy monitors. They can remind teachers and fellow pupils to turn off unnecessary lights and turn off computer monitors when not in use.  

Information for Pupils

Pupils and teachers can do a lot to help save energy in their schools. Energy-saving activities you do at home can also carried out in schools.

Turn Out the Lights

Lighting is one of the largest users of energy in the classroom. By turning out the lights when a classroom is unoccupied, the school can save money. Schools may also want to consider "occupancy sensors" that detect whether there are people in the room. If no one is there, the lights are turned off.

Stop the Drips

Hot water is another area that uses a great amount of energy. By fixing dripping taps, you can save water and save energy.

Saving water is important as there is a limited supply and shortages are common throughout the UK. Believe it or not, there is less water available per person than in hotter countries such as Spain.

Droughts and flooding will become more common in the UK due to climate change so it more important than ever that we think of ways to use less water.

Saving water will also help to reduce your water bills in school. It can be collected in the garden in water butts and used for watering the garden instead of using a hosepipe.

Close Doors

Leaving doors wide open to a room or building may make it more inviting to come in, but it wastes energy.

Change the Settings

Change the thermostat setting down by one degree in rooms during winter, pupils and equipment give off their own heat.  A one degree reduction in heat will reduce your energy bills.

Reuse and Recycle

If the school has not set up a recycling scheme, do it now. Reusing paper and recycling paper saves money and energy. Recycle aluminium cans and plastic bottles.