School Conservation
School Conservation
Which classroom conserves energy?
Is energy conserved or wasted in your school?
Schools use a tremendous amount of electricity. This is particularly true for those that are electrically heated and cooled. (Just think of the large area that must be heated or cooled.) Lighting is another major user.
When all the electrical appliances and equipment necessary for day-to-day operations of a modern school are considered, it is easy to understand the increasing dependence of schools on electricity, even though electricity is a major budget item. Some schools have monthly electrical bills of thousands of dollars.
Some newer school buildings are energy-efficient, but many schools are older and are not energy-efficient. Energy-saving buildings not only use less energy than wasteful buildings, but they are more comfortable.
Some key things in efforts to conserve energy at school are thermostat placement and setting, control of lighting, air vent location, and the number and operation of windows and exterior doors.
Thermostats should be located on interior (rather than exterior) walls. They should be set on 68 degrees during the winter and 78 degrees during summer. Unused lighting should be turned off. Furniture arrangement should not block the flow of heated or cooled air from vents. Excessive windows and exterior doors are energy wasters, as are those that are too-often opened (while the building is being heated or cooled) or those that are left open. Of course, all unused electrical equipment and appliances should be turned off, but these are minor contributors to school energy bills when compared to heating, cooling, and lighting.
You may be interested in learning more about the Alliance to Save Energy's Green Schools Project. The Green Schools Project has two primary purposes: 1) to bring some financial relief to schools; 2) to educate students, teachers, facilities and maintenance staff, administrators, and the whole school community about energy efficiency, its ties to the environment and the fiscal health of schools.
WHICH CLASSROOM CONSERVES ENERGY?
a. Which classroom do you think is conserving energy? Why?
b. Why is the other classroom wasting energy?
c. What can be done to make Classroom 2 more energy-efficient?
d. Can you think of some other ways to conserve energy at school that are not shown on the diagram?
a. Classroom 1 thermostat is on inside wall, the room has only two windows, and heating vent is not blocked
b. Too many windows, thermostat on outside wall, and heating vent blocked by desks
c. Cover up some windows, rearrange desks so heating vent is not blocked
d. Some possible answers include keeping heating units and filters clean; turning off lights, heating/cooling, and appliances when not needed; setting the thermostats correctly; and so on
IS ENERGY CONSERVED OR WASTED IN YOUR SCHOOL?
Tour your school building to look for ways energy is conserved or wasted. There are eight things to observe as you walk through the building. If you think energy is being conserved, write the number "1" in the "conserved" blank. If you think energy is being wasted, write "1" in the "wasted" blank. Repeat this process in every room you check. When you finish your tour, count the points for each thing. Does your school save energy or waste energy?
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Thermostat Conserved:
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Floor Covering (Carpeting helps keep rooms more comfortable.) Conserved: |
| Ceiling Height (About 8 feet is average. Very high ceilings waste energy.) Conserved:
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Windows (Check for drafts and for numbers of windows.) Conserved:
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| Classroom Air Vent Filters (Clean filters conserve energy. Dirty filters waste energy.) Conserved:
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Lighting (Unnecessary lights should be turned off.) Conserved:
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| Exterior Doorways (Doors should be kept closed when heat or air conditioning is on.) Conserved:
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Furniture Placement (Furniture should not block heating or cooling vents.) Conserved:
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Total Points: |
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Credit: "The Energy Sourcebook: Elementary Unit" (1990) Tennessee Valley Authority.