Energy Efficiency & Conservation

What's the problem?

As the world becomes more populated and countries become more advanced, the demand for energy and resources continues to rise at a high rate. For the most part, the world’s demand for energy has been met by the use of non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal. While burning fossil fuels releases energy, it also releases harmful gases —carbon dioxide, methane and ozone— that quickens the effects of global warming and climate change. The greatest hope is to replace the use of fossil fuels or at the very least decrease their usage to limit their impact on the environment. According to the EIA 79% of all US energy is currently produced through the burning of fossil fuels despite advancements made with the use of renewable resources. What that means is that there is still a whole lot of work to do!

Why should we care?

If we don’t shift our reliance from non-renewable to renewable sources, there may be irreversible consequences regarding the health of the Earth. There are five major sources that we depend on for our energy: natural gas (34%), petroleum (35%), coal (10%), renewable energy (12%), and nuclear electric power (9%). The majority of these sources have a negative effect on the environment and health by releasing greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. Each stage of the extraction and processing of petroleum, coal and natural gas further harm the environment by potentially contaminating ground drinking water, causing sinkholes, and releasing dangerous gases. Exposure to fossil fuel pollution is also linked to negative health impacts which disproportionately affect low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities.

What can we do?

To solve this problem, we as a society should work towards a fossil fuel phase-out, conserving non-renewable energy sources and becoming more reliant on renewable energy. To make our use of energy eco-friendly, we must first begin with the change of our habits as individuals. Turning off lights and electronics when not in use is an easy start. Air conditioners consume the most electricity in a home in South Florida. Look into investing in a programmable thermostat or simply raising the temperature a few degrees to save significant energy and money. Another solution is using more energy efficient bulbs. The light bulbs are often incandescent light bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), but light emitting diodes (LEDs) use less energy and also last longer. It is important to have these conversations with family and friends to make habits more energy efficient! If every home in the United States replaced one light bulb with an energy efficient alternative, the energy saved could light 3 million homes for a single year. 

Green Schools Challenge Activities:

• Community Building (Pre-K through 1st grade) - Energy Use Collage

• Hands On Learning (2nd through 3rd grade) - School Energy Audit

• Lab Activity (4th through 5th grade) - Alternative Energy Comparisons

• Create Your Own (Pre-K through 5th grade) - Submit Lesson Plan click here

Schools can choose to do more than one activity but maximum amount of points a school can earn for this topic is the same. Points for participation will be based on a rubric. Download here.

Energy Efficiency & Conservation Activity Submission Form Click Here.