Energy education: learning to be sustainable

1. 2 Energy education: learning to be sustainable Energy education

2. What is the EU doing? • Action plan on energy efficiency (October 2006) stresses education • Intelligent Energy Europe II (2007-2013) supports education projects • ManagEnergy education actions: KidsCorner website (23 languages) – interactive games and resources; visual and written materials for teachers Trains professionals in energy education Publicises local energy agencies Conferences and events streaming Energy education

3. What is the EU doing? • Funds education programmes : Socrates, Erasmus Mundus and Leonardo da Vinci • Comenius programme – international school projects http://www.managenergy.net/education.html Energy education

4. Tomorrow’s energy users • Energy security and climate change in national education plans • Teaching in schools to create environmental awareness • Promoting responsible energy use – at school and home • Big potential for energy saving if future generations adequately educated • Children influence parents • Involvement of local energy experts in class efforts • Expertise in school projects: vital role of energy agencies Energy education

5. Good practice: Child power The Force for Energy by Children (FEE-project 2001-2003), Belgium • 5,000 pupils, 100 schools, 7 European countries • Pupils created awareness-raising projects in schools and communities • Pupils analysed energy use in communities and proposed solutions • Local energy agencies provided educational materials • Pupils carried out energy audits of homes and schools • Exhibition in each school • Common project framework: newsletter and website http://www.curbain.be/ Energy education

6. School and teachers • Teachers need training in energy efficiency and correct methodologies and tools • Development of programmes and materials with local experts • Involvement of teachers when schools change energy-management strategies • Schools’ efforts to save energy can have educational use – involve the students in real-life examples • Exchange of ideas and experiences between schools, training centres and countries • E.g. competition to reward the most energy-efficient school in given area Energy education

7. Good practice: incentives to save Modena, Italy • Schools gain share of savings from cuts in electricity and gas use • Contract out energy-management strategies • Incentives ranging from money for new equipment to technical support • Investments in efficient boilers, solar heating, photovoltaic etc • Energy from renewable sources equivalent to 44,000 kWh of electricity and 60,000 m3 of methane annually – 1.4% of local administration’s total energy consumption • Seven schools signed agreements and in first year of the project (2001) participating schools received between €200 and €10,000 • Yearly savings around 2,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions http://www.aess-modena.it/ Energy education

8. Lifelong learning and energy training • Learning not just at school – all stages of life • Energy often taken for granted – people stick to habits • Important to engage energy managers in businesses and authorities • Vocational training should include energy efficiency training • Local energy agencies can develop training toolkits and e-learning modules for businesses • Train technicians working with energy-consuming products – need awareness of efficient technologies • Courses for public to promote sustainable energy consumption • Education, training centres and energy agencies should work together Energy education

9. What is ManagEnergy? • Initiative by European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport • Supports local and regional actions on energy efficiency and renewable energies • Training workshops/online events • Information on case studies, good practices, legislation and programmes • Network of local and regional energy agencies (LEAs) Energy education

10. More information? • www.managenergy.net Energy education