Ysgol Bro Tawe Takes Part in Energy Efficiency Pilot

TEST OF SCHOOL RESOURCES SHOWS HOW NEW POSITIVE ENERGY HABITS IN
FAMILIES CAN BE ENCOURAGED AT SCHOOL

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Smart Energy GB, the voice of the smart meter rollout, has published
the results of SMART Squad, a project which tested a range of school
resources designed to bring about energy saving behaviour change in
the home.   

The three month project was carried out in 12 schools in Wales,
including Ysgol Bro Tawe in Swansea, by the specialist education
consultancy, EdComs. EdComs found that SMART Squad made a real and
sustained difference to primary school pupils’ knowledge of energy
efficiency, bringing them closer to the level of understanding that
secondary school pupils already have and leading to a direct change in
their energy conservation awareness and behaviours at home. Key
findings included:

* More than half of pupils (54 per cent primary, 57 per cent
secondary) agreed they learned how to identify good energy habits
during the SMART Squad pilot project

* After a six week period significantly more pupils were able to
identify a range of activities correctly as energy efficient after
taking part in SMART Squad than a control group.  For example, 86 per
cent of primary pupils correctly identified hanging clothes to dry
rather than using the tumble dryer as energy efficient after
participating in the SMART Squad pilot, compared to 62 per cent of the
control group

* More than half of pupils (52 per cent) reported conversations about
SMART Squad at home immediately after participating in the pilot
project, and this was sustained six weeks after the project, with 49
per cent reporting that they had spoken to their parents about SMART
Squad ‘in the last few weeks’

* The resources successfully encouraged more frequent energy
efficient behaviour amongst pupils and their families: immediately
after participating 61 per cent of primary school pupils said that
they or their family turned the lights off every time they left the
room, an increase of 13 percentage points over the rate reported
before participating in the pilot

* The majority of parents (83 per cent) were aware that their child
had participated in a lesson on energy efficiency and smart meters

* Before participating in the pilot project, 29 per cent of pupils
said they were aware of smart meters: this rose to 83 per cent of
pupils who said they were aware of smart meters immediately after
participating

* All 12 participating teachers said they would use the resources
again

The resources tested, including worksheets, challenges and diaries,
were used in 12 schools across Wales. Participating teachers reported
that the resources engaged pupils and were a good fit with the
curriculum, with primary school teachers using them within science,
geography, PSE and global citizenship lessons and stating that they
provided a good opportunity to develop numeracy and literacy skills
and encouraged group work and class discussion.

Secondary teachers all used the resources under the science
framework, with some stating that they valued the opportunity to use
‘real-life’ examples for maths, and others commenting that the
resources engaged pupils because they were fun and relevant to their
everyday lives.

Natalie Pottenger, a teacher at Alway Primary School, said “The
content was good for bringing in numeracy across the curriculum” and
Kate Rees, teacher at Holy Name Catholic Primary School, said that her
students had “really enjoyed finding out about saving energy and
campaigning to make others aware”

The SMART Squad project was initiated following publication of _A
Smart Route to Change_ [1], a white paper published by Smart Energy
GB, setting out how everyone involved in Britain’s smart meter
rollout should apply behavioural science to help change our energy use
for the better. 

Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB, said: “The
enthusiastic response from primary school pupils shows that young
children can be a real catalyst for change when it comes to energy
efficiency. During the test of our SMART Squad resources, they took
their new knowledge home and encouraged their families to do their bit
for the planet, leading to a pronounced shift in energy behaviours and
awareness.

“The rollout of smart meters is engaging consumers with the way
they use gas and electricity, empowering families to take control of
their energy through positive behaviour change. As the national
rollout continues, we hope to work with others in the energy industry
and beyond to explore more ways that behavioural science can help
Britain to reduce its carbon footprint.”