Teaching resources launched to engage schools with energy efficiency

Smart Energy GB has launched a series of free dedicated teaching resources across Great Britain to help engage primary school pupils with smart meters and energy efficient behaviour.

The curriculum-linked resources include a lesson presentation and activity sheets, designed to help encourage energy-saving behaviour in the home.

This follows a successful pilot of the SMART Squad programme in Welsh schools earlier this year.

The results of the pilot showed that SMART Squad made a significant difference to primary school pupils’ knowledge of energy efficiency, bringing them closer to the level of understanding that secondary school pupils already have and leading to a direct change in their energy efficient behaviours both in school and at home.

Participating teachers reported that the resources engaged pupils and were a good fit with the curriculum, with primary school teachers using them within science, geography, PSE and global citizenship lessons and stating that they provided a good opportunity to develop numeracy and literacy skills and encouraged group work and class discussion.

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Smart Energy GB, said: “Our SMART Squad programme has demonstrated that, when given the right tools and knowledge, children can be a real catalyst for change when it comes to energy saving.

“That’s why we’re offering all primary schools across the country the opportunity to make these resources a part of their lessons and help their pupils to get a real understanding of energy efficiency and smart meters.”

The SMART Squad project was initiated following publication of 'A Smart Route to Change', a white paper published by Smart Energy GB, setting out how everyone involved in Britain’s smart meter rollout should apply behavioural science to help change our energy use for the better. Smart meters have a vital role to play in supporting this long-term sustainable energy behaviour change.

For more information about SMART Squad, and to download the resources, click the link below.