Change-maker

Appoint pupil energy monitors in all classes

Energy monitors in each class can carry out a selection of monitoring activities on a regular basis such as checking classroom temperatures and checking to see if lights and electrical equipment are left on after school

Big Weekend Switch Off - Energy Sparks X Lets Go Zero

Give your school's power the weekend off with our guide to this top climate action.

Campaign for a meat-free day of school dinners

Run a campaign to encourage your caterers and school community to embrace a low carbon diet on one or more days a week

Carry out a campaign to inform staff and pupils about the importance of classroom layout to keep the heating running efficiently

Make sure radiators are not obstructed by any equipment to allow better circulation of heat into the space and reduce the energy required to meet the heating demand

Declare a Climate Emergency

Talk to your Head teacher and governors about declaring a Climate Emergency

Hold a sustainable travel theme day

Some guidance and ideas for to help you run a sustainable travel day at your school

Introduce a policy on reducing energy and resource use from printing and photocopying.

Pupils and staff can work together to write a policy to cut energy and resource use from printing and photocopying

Introduce a policy on switching off lights, computers, and other information technology equipment

Pupils and staff can work togther to write a policy to cut energy waste on lighting and IT equipment

Label lights and appliances to show which should be left on or turned off

Identify all IT equipment, appliances and lighting throughout the school and indicate which can be turned off using a traffic light coding system

Make draught proofing equipment

Transform an old pair of tights into an adorable sausage dog which will keep out draughts from under doors

Plan and run a campaign to switch off lights and use natural light on sunny days

Discover how classroom set up can increase natural light levels and explore the optimal levels of light in classrooms

Pupils and staff set an energy reduction target

Having a target will help focus your energy saving work

Run a campaign for the whole school community - Challenge 1 degree

Each home that turned down its thermostat 1 degree could prevent 310kg of carbon emissions a year - run a campaign to get pupils and staff to take action at home

Run a campaign to close doors and windows when the heating is on

Campaign ideas to help remind and reward staff and pupils to keep windows and doors closed when the heating is on

Run a campaign to switch off electrical equipment overnight

Survey all school rooms to identify what is being left on overnight and use traffic light stickers to empower pupils to switch off equipment at the end of the school day

Run a Layer Up Power Down Day

Take part in a Layer Up Power Down Day

Run a switch off campaign

Take action on holiday energy waste by running a switch off campaign

Run a themed event focused on energy use

Run a big energy saving event that involves everyone - pupils, teachers, support staff and families at home.

Run a whole school lights switch off competition

Reward pupils and staff for leaving the lights switched off

Run a Winter Heat Saver campaign

Some resources to help you tackle heat waste in your school.

Save energy in the kitchen in Food Technology

Use Energy Sparks' top tips to save energy in the Food Technology kitchen and at home

Set up an Energy or Eco team to lead on energy efficiency at your school

Allow pupils to take ownership of energy saving plans and action

Students and staff create a holiday switch off checklist

Create a school switch-off checklist to be used before weekends and holidays to ensure nothing is forgotten

Take longer term action to promote sustainable and energy saving travel to school

Promote more active and sustainable travel to school cut global warming emissions and air pollution

Turn off the heating for the summer

Cut heating waste during the summer months

Turn the school heating down by 1°C

For every 1 degree C you reduce the temperature you save the school about 10% of its heating costs

Work with your Caretaker to change the morning heating start time

Pupils work with the caretaker to observe the response to changing the morning heating start time

Write an energy action plan for your school

Use our template to help you draft your energy saving action plan

Write a policy on closing external doors and windows when the heating is on

Pupils and staff can work together to write a policy to get everyone in the school to remember to always keep windows and doors closed when the heating is on

Write a policy on transportation to school

Pupils and staff can work together to write a policy to promote planet-friendly travel to school

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