Creating sustainable futures through experiential learning in an energy efficiency in schools program

Australia faces significant climate change (IPCC. 2001). Reducing our environmental footprint from our current high energy consumption and high greenhouse emissions to create more sustainable futures is the focus of an energy efficiency program for school students in Queensland, Australia. Participants in the program create action plans to reduce energy consumption at their school with a target of at least 15% in a year. Learnings of the participants are transferred to the whole school and to the wider community through activities such as days of celebration, 'adoption' of local industries and media coverage. This study examines the impacts of the program on the energy usage behaviours of participating schools. It looks briefly at the development of the program that originated in Central Queensland in 1998 and reports more fully on the most recent programs. Electricity savings have been up to 50% in schools participating in the program. Such outcomes and the way in which they are achieved are of interest to business wishing to improve the 'bottom line'. Overall it was found that the the program contributes to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through action plans for participants' school that result in less electricity consumption by the school. It was also found there is a transfer of learnings of participants to others within and outside the school and that the program is making a contribution to a more sustainable fuutre.