Energy saving tips at school

At school

Light action

Turn off the lights when you are not using them. Just switching off at recess and lunchtime can save a lot of energy. Open the blinds to let in natural light and maybe you won't need to turn on so many lights. Check the hallways and other shared spaces. Often lights are left on when they aren't needed.

Cool ideas

When the cooler or heater is on keep the doors, windows and blinds closed.
Only use heaters when there is someone in the room.
Check the settings on your thermostat. Heaters should be set at 18-20 degrees and air-conditioners at 24 degrees.
Check for draughts coming through gaps around windows and doors by holding a tissue up near the gap and seeing if it moves. Talk to your teacher about how to plug the gaps.

Power down

Make sure all computers are turned off when not in use. Remember screen savers do not save energy!
Monitors use a lot of energy, so ensure they are switched off. New computers have a function setting which automatically switches off the computer and/or monitor after a set amount of time. Investigate these options by going to your computer’s control panel.
Ensure printers and photocopiers are switched off at night and on weekends. Check to see if they have an 'Energy Saver' setting and make sure people know how to use it.

Extra Tips

Check for leaky taps. Dripping hot water taps are using energy with each drop as well as wasting water.
Appoint a 'Power Ranger' in each class. This person is responsible to make sure everything is turned off each day. Everyone should have a turn at being the "Power Ranger".
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The three R's are a great way to save money, energy and waste.

Want to save even more?

By using Western Power's Energy Saving Kit for Schools you could save up to 30% on energy bills and as much as 20,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases in your school. Get a team of teachers and students together and work through the tasks outlined in the kit. The team will come up with:

A calculation of the school's current energy consumption
The school's energy management policy
A plan for implementing the policy
A presentation to show the results to the school council.
Don’t forget to visit our Activities and Events section to find out how you can get involved!