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Other Environmental Health Initiatives

Energy Efficiency

Description

Practising energy efficiency helps students, teachers, administrators, custodians and parents work together to help their school conserve resources and protect the environment. Energy conservation is important, because of the world’s limited amount of nonrenewable energy sources. It is vital to conserve our current energy supplies or to use renewable sources of energy, so that our natural resources will be available for future generations. Energy conservation is also a priority, because the consumption of nonrenewable sources impacts the environment. Our use of fossil fuels contributes to air and water pollution, and climate change.

For example, carbon dioxide is produced when oil, coal, and gas combust in power stations, heating systems, and car engines. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a transparent blanket that contributes to the global warming of the earth or "greenhouse effect." It is possible that this warming trend could significantly alter our weather. Possible impacts include a threat to human health, environmental impacts such as rising sea levels that can damage coastal areas, and major changes in vegetation growth patterns that could cause some plant and animal species to become extinct.

Adopting good energy management practices demonstrates leadership, and environmental and fiscal responsibility. The more energy we use to run our schools, the more air pollution we cause either directly, through carbon dioxide from parental vehicles and school buses or indirectly through the power plants that burn fossil fuels to produce electricity for our electrical equipment or our water pumps.

Many of our everyday activities, such as working on the computer and turning lights on, use a lot of energy. By being aware of our usage, and by making small changes in our daily habits, we can save energy, save money, and help to reduce climate change.

Background

When energy use is reduced, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced as well. Water conservation not only reduces the use of a valuable resource, but also conserves the energy needed to clean, pump and heat water. Practising the 3Rs of Conservation(reduce, reuse and recycle) saves the energy required to produce consumer products and reduces the effects of waste disposal.

The average global temperature is rising sharply. Humans are contributing to the greenhouse effect by emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) that trap energy and warm the atmosphere. Most of the emissions come from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gasoline. And if decisive action is not taken very soon to stabilize the amounts of GHGs in the atmosphere, scientists expect that further dramatic warming will take place over the coming century. The projected rise in temperature is expected to occur faster than at any other period over the last 10,000 years. Electricity is generated from both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources are those sources that are constantly renewed or restored, and include wind (wind power), water (hydropower), sun (solar), vegetation (biomass), and internal heat of the earth (geothermal). Nonrenewable energy sources are natural resources that cannot be replenished (fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal).

In addition to renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, a percentage of electric power in Canada is generated by nuclear power plants. However, operating such plants poses significant nuclear waste disposal problems.

What You Can Do

The following ideas can help you evaluate your school’s energy use and identify ways to conserve energy. These concepts will significantly reduce a school’s utility bill and other energy costs over one year.

Ensure lights are turned off when classrooms, washrooms, and offices are not being used. Post signs by light switches that will remind students and staff to turn off lights when leaving a room or office.

If using multi-lighted fixtures, have unnecessary lights removed. De-lamp two lights from four light fixtures.

Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature when you are not in the school. Set the thermostat to 20 °C in winter when you're at school and down to 13° C when you leave or are away (programmable thermostats can do this automatically).

Buy energy-efficient equipment. There are standard energy use tags attached to most new equipment that can help you determine which pieces will be the most efficient. This equipment may be more costly, but your utility bill savings will quickly make up for the extra cost.

Ensure that windows and doors are air-tight and are kept closed to prevent heat loss in the winter, and that windows are opened in the warmer months to provide natural ventilation.

Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the school to provide natural shade and cooling in the warmer months.

Place water filled containers (about the size of a brick) in toilet tanks to conserve water.

Recycle items such as newspaper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles; recycling these items requires less energy than producing them from brand new, raw materials.

Use cold water when possible

Use energy-saving settings on computers and other equipment

Stop air leaks around windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping. Air leaks can rob your school of heat in the winter or make it too humid in the summer.

Clean or change air filters on your air heating system in the winter and on air conditioning units in the summer so that they work more efficiently.

Resources and Links

If you would like to become involved in more energy conservation initiatives, contact the following organizations:

Destination Conservation at www.dcplanet.ca

Natural Resources Canada (The Office of Energy Eff.(OEE)
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/index.cfm

Climate Change Solutions at www.climatechangesolutions.com