Energy / water audit
Summary information
Age range: | 7 - 14 year olds |
Curriculum links: | Maths |
Time needed: | 50 minutes |
Group size: | Whole class and small groups |
Setting: | Indoors |
Key vocabulary: | Meters, utility bills, therms, cubic metres, Kilowatt hours (KWh), efficiency, fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, CO2, carbon dioxide, emissions, greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change |
Sustainability learning outcome(s): |
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Preparation:
Visit the school’s electricity, heating and/or water meters and look at some utility bills before tackling this activity.
Resources needed:
A whiteboard or similar to display brainstorm ideas, copies of 
Resource Sheet 5 (36 KB), access to energy and/or water bills and meters.
Procedure:
1. Briefly brainstorm the following question: “Where might this school be wasting water, electricity and/or heating?”
2. In groups, invite pupils to explain how they could use the school’s energy and water meters to provide the information that could be used to test the theories on Resource Sheet 5?
3. As a whole class, discuss the plans that have been made to investigate the theories on Resource Sheet 5. Ask pupils to explain how the water, heating and/or electricity meters can be used to identify:
- where savings can be made;
- the size of the savings that have been made.
Extensions:
Create a regular monitoring system for energy and water meters and encourage pupils to play an active role in improving greater water and energy efficiency around the school. The following resources might be useful for developing your plans:
School water audit
www.southernwater.co.uk/pdfs/educationAndEnviro/educationResource/schoolsResources/SCBS_Schools04.pdf
Energy Audit
www.thecarbontrust.co.uk – free registration and free resources!
Evaluation:
Ask pupils to complete the following:
One thing I’ve learned is…
One thing we need to do at the school is…
This will help the school because…
This will help the environment because…
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