Bay schools energised for the future

Bay schools' energised for the future

Bay of Plenty schools and the environment are set to benefit from a new practical, hands-on energy resource for teachers and students.

The resource, a joint project between Environment Bay of Plenty, Energy Options and Eastern Bay Energy Trust, will help primary and secondary school students understand energy – what it is, where it comes from, how we can generate it, store it, conserve it and use it wisely.

The Energy resource encourages teachers and students to take steps to save energy both at school and in their homes and encourages sustainable practices community-wide.

Environment Bay of Plenty Councillor Malcolm Whitaker said the regional council’s ongoing commitment to local schools and their families was reinforced by helping develop the resource.

“As a regional council we’re interested in the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources in our region – and that includes most energy sources. Providing a schools’ resource that will help teachers work with students to improve knowledge and actions around energy sources and use will be a great help to the future of the Bay of Plenty,” Councillor Whitaker said.

Energy Options Marketing Manager Steve Hanna said there were a number of simple actions in schools and homes that people can take to achieve good energy savings.

“We all have a responsibility to adopt energy conservation and energy efficiency measures to avoid wasting power – something which will benefit our environment.”

The energy resource is part of the Eastern Bay Energy Trust’s funding commitment to local schools and brings together Enviroschools material and materials used by Energy Options in classroom education during the past three years.

It contains up-to-date information and fun activities to measure and reduce energy use; energy sources (renewable and non-renewable) as well as other aspects of energy and electricity. The activities can be altered to suit different age groups and abilities. The written material includes graphics by local illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson.

Equipment kits, including a “powermate” to measure the electricity usage of plug-in appliances, a model house illustrating home energy use and solar/wind experiments and construction kits, complement the written material.

Schools in each sub-region can borrow the equipment free of charge. Eastern Bay of Plenty schools can also have Energy Options deliver in-class teaching and hands-on learning activities.

Following the launch last week a teacher workshop was held with more than 20 teachers from throughout the region.

Energy saving tips:
• Turn off appliances at the wall when not in use to save standby energy
• Insulate ceilings – 40 percent of heat is lost through uninsulated ceilings
• Replace standard light bulbs with energy efficient ones – this saves 80 percent of electricity per bulb
• Keep heat in the home by closing curtains and blinds as the sun goes down

ENDS

© Scoop Media