Learning Objectives

The student will be able to audit a building for energy efficiency.

Teaching Process

1)Have students create a list of behaviors they could find around the school that would be energy-wise choices.
2)Have students either create their own checklists, or provide copies of the Energy Audit Checklist included with the activity. Explain that students are to collect data on where energy-wise choices are being used, and where the school could improve efficiency. If possible, have students document their findings, both good and bad, using cameras.
3)Divide students into groups that can either focus on one area of the school or one or two specific conservation measures, such as door weather stripping and the use of fluorescent lighting for one group, lights off in unoccupied spaces, and computer monitors off or in standby mode when not in use for another group.
4)Give students a certain amount of time to collect data and then return to the classroom and discuss the results of their surveys. As a class, produce a list of recommendations for saving energy at your school. Have students suggest ways that these recommendations could be shared with the school, stressing that all communications should be positive, not accusatory.
5)Your students are now Energy Action Patrol agents. Allow students to implement positive suggestions.