Summary
Wexford Energy Management Agency Ltd. (WEMAL), as part of its role in energy education, designed and conducted a Secondary Schools Energy Awareness Programme to increase student awareness of energy issues and environmental effects. The programme covers both Junior Certificate (13 to 15 years of age) and Leaving Certificate (16 to 18 years of age) levels, and was initially trialled in two secondary schools to assess its performance. The culmination of the programme was a display and presentation of student work at a Secondary Schools Energy Exhibition. Student involvement was of paramount importance and all students showed a keen interest and understanding of energy issues at the end of the programme. Further implementation of the programme will take place following this successful trial.
Results
The WEMAL secondary school energy awareness programme was trialled in two secondary schools in County Wexford. The Junior Level Energy Action Project was implemented in Bridgetown Vocational College, Bridgetown, Co. Wexford. Twenty students participated in the Action Project, including a field trip to Carnsore Point Windfarm. The Action Project included three wind energy surveys conducted with 100 students, 100 people living in proximity to Carnsore Point Windfarm and five TDs (members of Irish parliament) and one MEP. The students exhibited their results at the Renewable Energy National Conference 2004, held in Wexford Town in February 2004, where they were awarded the Conference's Best Schools Project Award at Junior Level.
The Senior Level Secondary Schools Energy Audit was implemented in the Christian Brothers Secondary School, Thomas Street, Wexford. Fourteen students participated in the audit in which electricity usage, heat energy use and transport energy use were measured and calculated for their school over an annual period. Transport energy use was assessed via a student survey of 172 pupils throughout all school years (42% of the total school attendance). Recommendations for improving energy efficiency in all areas were put forward by the participants. The students exhibited their results at the Renewable Energy National Conference 2004, held in Wexford Town in February 2004, where they were awarded a Certificate of Achievement in recognition of outstanding work.
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Education
: Energy Audits
: Energy Efficiency
: Renewable Energy Sources & Systems
: Schools & Colleges
: User behaviour
: Wind Energy
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