Team plugs into energy saving!

An unique energy saving project is celebrating its fifth birthday this year.

Operation Energy works with primary schools involved in Pembrokeshire’s Sustainable Schools Award Scheme.

Team members plug into the award’s energy topic and work with pupils, staff and governors to help reduce school energy bills

They also educate pupils on the need to save energy as part of the wider environmental outlook.

“Operation Energy is a key part in of the Sustainable Schools Award scheme,” said Councillor Sue Perkins, Cabinet Member for Education.

“Pupils learn about the environmental, social and economic reasons to reduce energy use – not just at school but also at home,” she said.

“And by taking small steps to change their local environment, they also learn how to face up to the larger world-wide challenges.”

Operation Energy is a partnership between Pembrokeshire County Council, the Pembrokeshire Sustainable Schools Award Scheme and freelance energy consultants, Energy in Education.

Launched in 2010, its team has worked with 14 schools across the County with more in the pipeline.

After a school agrees to take part in the Sustainable Schools Award Scheme, Operation Energy team member Steve Keating – PCC’s Energy Manager – fits smart meters to the building’s energy supply so that the school will know how much energy it is using at any point in time.

Tim Brew from Energy in Education will then run a full-day workshop with pupils teaching them how to read the meters and indentify areas where savings can be made.

Pupils are also advised on how to draw up an energy awareness campaign using different methods to persuade, remind and reward both their school and wider community of the need to save energy.

Energy saving work continues with pupils, staff and governors throughout the term before team members return to see the progress that has been made.

“School buildings account for around half of all the energy used in public buildings so coming up with solutions to the real problem of reducing energy use helps everyone,” said Tim Brew of Energy in Education.

“By helping change school energy use, pupils can feel part of taking action towards the big challenges the world faces.

“But what I have enjoyed the most is the pupils’ creativity, and humour in getting their messages across.”

Steve Keating said it was amazing how much energy could be saved by investigating usage and taking straightforward actions.

“Simple changes such as switching off unnecessary lighting, ensuring curtains and blinds are kept open to allow in as much natural light as possible, turning off electrical equipment when it’s not needed, turning down heating thermostats, and closing windows and doors can often save a lot,” he said.

“Pupils have also spotted opportunities where uncomplicated changes, such as replacing old style lighting, can save more money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions that result from the use of fossil fuels.”

Caption
Young energy agents at St Francis Catholic Primary School in Milford Haven – part of Operation Energ