Intelligent energy education has become a major tool for changing peoples' behaviour in the rational use of energy in their homes, education and workplaces. This event follows on from the success of the Education Today for Tomorrow's Energy Users conference during EUSEW 2007, in which actors working on energy education initiatives gathered experiences regarding the drivers and barriers for undertaking successful projects.

It is recognised that teachers often lack the training in adequately responding to questions related to energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and the rational use of energy. School curricula often do not offer the flexibility to integrate such subjects in teaching. Although many local authorities and private entities employ well trained energy advisors, they often lack the access to the education sector to offer their knowledge and experiences.

The energy education conference during the EUSEW 2008 with the slogan "bringing energy awareness to school" primarily addressed those barriers. The participants discussed the opportunities for introducing energy education into national curricula and the role of a pan-European exchange between authorities, schools and energy experts for enhancing teaching capacities. The aim was to develop strategies that will help actors in the field of energy education to get the subject to the children.

The keynote speaker, Günther Franz Pfaffenwimmer, as the representative of a national education authority, introduced the participants to the challenges of integrating intelligent energy concerns in national curricula. In his capacity as President of the ENSI network he also reflected on trends and guidelines for future-orientated teacher education.

ManagEnergy and the Eco-Schools International Coordinator presented practical examples of how to motivate and involve school children in energy education in a fun way.

The second part of the conference offered the opportunity to exchange experiences on successful energy education projects which are tackling such barriers. Co-ordinators and actors of Intelligent Energy - Europe projects interactively discussed with the participants how their expertise and the outputs of their projects help teachers to educate children.

During the break, the participants were invited to build their own sustainable community using the interactive Ecoville game.