School budgets don't have a lot of extra money, so when high schoolers propose saving the district money, everyone jumps on board. The first lesson in the series of 21 introduces the concept of an energy audit. Scholars form an eco-action team and divide up the work. The audit gives the group a starting point, and they use a multifaceted approach to save the school money and help the environment.

Concepts

ecology, environmental science, school environment, renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy, fossil fuels, alternative energy sources

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Provide extra credit for scholars who complete an energy audit at home as well

Classroom Considerations

• Requires prior knowledge of renewable and nonrenewable resources, fossil fuels, and alternative energies
• Utilizes a team from the school or district including the director of building and grounds maintenance, operations manager, energy management supervisor, head custodian, and the environmental/safety coordinator

Pros

• Provides presentations to introduce the vocabulary, procedures, and examples of other schools that have taken on the challenge
• Aligned with National Science Education Standards, National Education Technology Standards, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, Climate Literacy Principles, and Energy Literacy Principles
• Offers extension ideas and inspiration from other teens who have previously completed the lesson

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.7 RST.11-12.7