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For a sample “Energy Matters” newsletter
complete with case studies showing examples of successful SEED
projects, click on the link below:
"Energy
Matters" newsletter
(2.3M Adobe pdf file, requires Acrobat Reader, a free program/browser
plug-in available here.)
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SEED
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 “Our
students are actually being scientists and engineers and
doing real world kind of things. This is what the students
have been doing in this program… I’m excited about
SEED because it’s a partnership with (MERP) and teachers
and maintenance personnel and with administrators. I really
like the way we have all worked together.”.
Joe
Clark,
Clayton Science Coordinator, 1999
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SEED is a unique, interactive year-long
energy education program which educates and empowers students,
teachers and other school staff to take action on energy efficiency.
Students are provided with opportunities to understand the complex
issues surrounding the production and use of energy in today's
world, using the school building as the learning lab.
Over a series of eight visits incorporating The 8-Step Action
Plan, students learn about forms and sources of energy and
electric power generation, leading them to research their school
building using the following: comfort survey assessments, energy
audits, utility bill analyses, custodian interviews and boiler
room tours. They then implement an energy project to educate all
building users, causing changed behaviors and reduced use of natural
resources, thereby lowering utility bills. Through involvement
in SEED, many schools move forward with implementing facility
improvements to increase comfort and further reduce energy costs.
Students interact throughout the year with the Principal and Maintenance
staff in Energy Management Team meetings, including all the players
needed to plan for improving energy efficiency in their school.
SEED activities are correlated to national and state education
standards, and at the end of each visit we conduct a journal activity
built to assess their energy knowledge, often using the process-oriented
method of assessment commonly associated with state standards.
Most importantly, SEED gives participants the power to contribute
to solutions. SEED reduces utility costs through building improvements,
energy education and behavior changes. It involves educators,
administrators, custodians, parents, businesses and students in
turning wasted watts into district dollars !
Typically the Year in SEED ends with a celebration,
a SEED Summit, and distribution of the “Energy Matters”
newsletter for that district. This publication showcases all the
SEED schools in the district, with examples of what their projects
and successes were for that year.
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