Sustainable & Attainable: tackling climate change - http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/learn/pages/About/
Energy use - problems and solutions
Before action plans can be developed we need to understand the current situation. Students can use this tool to gather information about Energy
problems in the school, and then propose actions to improve the situation. The location of problems can be indicated on the school map. Agreed
actions can be documented in the School Environment Management Plan (SEMP).
1. Your classroom
Item
Potential problems and solutions
Temperature
What is the best temperature for your classroom?
Notes
Actions
Can the temperature be adjusted? By whom?
Are rooms heated or cooled when not in use?
Are people wearing appropriate clothing for the weather?
Natural Light
Shading and wind protection. Are there:
 Deciduous plantings on north and east of buildings for
summer shade?
 Evergreen plantings on west and south of buildings
for protection from winter winds?
Is natural light allowed inside and being used?
 Are desks placed near windows?
 Are windows covered e.g. with posters?
 Are windows clean?
Do the windows have blinds/curtains? What colour are they?
Are there any skylights?
Lighting
Are lights turned off when not needed? Are any left on
(during breaks or overnight)?
How many reminder signs to switch off light are there?
How many energy saving light bulbs (e.g. fluorescent tubes)
are being used?
Are too many lights used in an area?
 Are all lights operated by a single switch?
 Are lights ‘zoned’ to allow some to be turned off when
not needed?
Are light fixtures clean?
1.
Sustainable & Attainable: tackling climate change - http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/learn/pages/About/
Air
Can you feel any cold draughts coming into rooms? Where?
Do computers use sleep mode when not in use?
Appliances
Do computers have flat screens? (Flat screens use less
energy.)
Do appliances (e.g. TVs, DVD players, photocopy machines,
printers, and computers) have a standby or energy saving
mode? Is it used regularly during the day?
Are appliances turned off overnight and when not being used?
When are appliances turned off at the power point?
Can you see an energy star rating on equipment? What
appliances have high/low star ratings?
2.
Sustainable & Attainable: tackling climate change - http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/learn/pages/About/
2. Other areas - (Permission should be sought to carry out assessments outside the classroom.)
Item
Potential problems and solutions
Appliances
Are fridges and freezers running efficiently? Look for:
 no frost, gaps at the top, back and sides for heat to
escape
 doors properly sealed
 back of fridge/freezer clean from dust, cobwebs etc.
Notes
Actions
N.B. running temperatures for fridge: 3 to 5oC; for freezers: -15 to 18oC
Is equipment new and efficient? Should any appliances be
replaced?
Do you have noisy machines? (Machines that produce a lot of
heat or noise indicate a lot of energy is being used.)
 Where are they?
 Can the noise be minimised?
Are water heaters or boilers left on overnight or during
holidays? (e.g. in staff/art/home economics rooms).
 Do they have an off switch?
Outside
lighting
Are lights turned off during the day?
 Are they on a timer/sensor?
 When are they used?
Are energy saving light bulbs being used?
3.