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World context
Energy consumption is one of the main factors that causes greenhouse gas emissions -- and, therefore, leads to climate change. As the world’s fossil fuel resources are limited and our demand for energy is increasing, the key solution to reducing climate change effects is renewable energy. Renewable energy is generated by capturing the power of water (flowing water, waves), sun, wind, the planet's internal heat (geothermal heat flow) or the energy generated by biological processes (bioenergy), and transferring it into a useable energy form.
Audience
The “Energy is our Future” project is designed for teachers of sciences, languages, art, social sciences and ICT (Information and Communications Technologies), in lower and upper secondary school classes (11-18).
Project purpose
The major themes of this project are the efficient use of energy, the consumption and saving of energy, and renewable energy solutions. The themes are designed to convey two key messages through specific information and online activities:
- Renewable energy is the key solution to the tomorrow’s energy needs; plastics enable renewable energy.
- Design and materials influence energy consumption; less energy is used in a product’s lifecycle when plastics are part of the design.
The project offers information (a selection of teaching and learning resources), online tools (a set of Web-based activities) and a competition.
- Selected teaching and learning resources
This section contains articles and links to websites on energy topics. Both articles and links will help teachers plan and organise lessons on energy consumption, energy saving, and renewable energy solutions
- Web-based activities
The project provides two sets of activities. The first set comprises online chats which bring together experts and classes from different locations to discuss about energy subjects. The second set is called “My Energy Train Story” and is a Web-based classroom activity which encourages students from secondary schools to write a story together. The story features concrete ideas on changing behaviours in terms of energy saving.
- Competition
Secondary school students ages 11-18 are invited to contribute with an entry representing their view on energy efficiency, energy savings and/or renewable energy solutions. The entry shall consist of a poster, a slogan (motto), and a description (see competition guidelines). Winners will be invited to Brussels to attend the ceremony awards, which is scheduled to take place in early June 2007.
General information
The “Energy is our Future” project is being run by European Schoolnet on behalf of PlasticsEurope. For any questions about the project, its activities and competition send an email to Petru Dumitru at: futurenergia@eun.org
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The “Energy is our Future” project is intended to enhance and support energy education across the curriculum in schools. It helps teachers raise their students' awareness of how to save energy, what energy consumption means, and the importance of renewable energy. The project also aims to inspire students to influence behaviours in their nearest environment, such as families and local communities.
