Investigating where energy is being used - and wasted - in your school
A collection of 22 activities relevant to a range of subjects and key stages.
Get pupils involved in checking that lights and IT equipment is switched off at the end of the school day
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 CitizenshipGet pupils involved in checking whether lights and electrical equipment are being left on in empty classrooms or when no one is using them
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship Maths ScienceIdentify if and where low energy LED lighting is or could be used in your school
20 KS2 KS3 KS4 ScienceInvestigate and take action to save energy in the school kitchens
30 KS3 KS4 Citizenship Geography Maths ScienceAudit energy using equipment in the science labs and technology workshops and implement our top tips to save energy
30 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship ScienceRun a lunchtime audit to identify how much food waste is generated by your school
30 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship MathsFind out how to track the oil or LPG consumption of you school's boiler and how much carbon dioxide it emits
50 KS3 KS4 KS5 MathsSee where your school is losing heat and then plan measures to improve insulation.
20 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship Design and Technology ScienceUse our downloadable home energy questionnaire to find out about energy use behaviours at home
20 KS1 KS2 KS3 Citizenship English GeographyPupils talk to the caretaker, site manager or business manager to find out how water is heated in the school
10 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 CitizenshipSpot the thermostats around the school and investigate whether they are set at the optimum temperature
10 KS1 KS2 KS3 Citizenship Maths ScienceFind out whether the school's heating and hot water is running during the school holidays and take easy action to cut energy waste
10 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship English MathsThis questionnaire provides a general starting point for pupils to work with kitchen staff to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of their school kitchen.
10 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 CitizenshipPut thermometers in every classroom and monitor these daily to track comfort levels and how well the heating system is working
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 Citizenship Maths ScienceMonitor light levels in classrooms and develop an action plan to optimise use of natural light and minimise use of artificial lights
30 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship Geography ScienceMonitor how many pupils and staff are wearing warmer clothes on colder days and then take action to encourage more people to wear a jumper in winter to allow cooler room temperatures
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 MathsInvestigate how many lights and appliances are left on or on standby and take action to reduce unnecessary electricity use
30 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5 Citizenship Geography ScienceMonitor whether doors and windows are open when the heating is on and explore alternative solutions to control classroom heating and ventilation
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 CitizenshipExplore a selection of experiments using a thermal imaging camera
10 KS1 KS2 KS3Put thermometers in each classroom and nominate class energy monitors to check the temperature remains just right at 18°C
5 KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 Citizenship Maths ScienceAppliance monitors can be very useful to identify energy guzzling appliances to help support the case for appliance upgrades
10 KS1 KS2 KS3 Maths Science