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Energy-inefficient buildings, fossil-fuel energy sources, and energy practices of an earlier era - that is the common perception of New Zealand schools.

However, many schools are reviewing their energy use. They are adopting energy-efficiency practices, often building them into the curriculum, and they have exciting success stories to tell.

Some of these stories are outlined in the Energy-efficient Schools guide, which will soon be online at www.neri.org.nz/education/energy_efficient_schools

A collaborative guide

The Energy-efficient Schools guide is a collaborative venture, initially produced by the National Energy Research Institute (NERI) in partnership with The Enviroschools Foundation, the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA), and supported by the Ministry of Education for this web development.

In addition, an advisory panel of energy and education experts contributed their expertise. The result is detailed, up-to-date information on efficient technologies in lighting, heating, equipment, hot water, and transport in schools. Based on this information, downloadable audit and planning templates are provided. Coming soon are interactive tools for inputting energy data and obtaining data for comparison and monitoring.

Learning from successful schools

The guide explores the impressive energy-efficiency efforts of two large secondary schools and two small primary schools, from Auckland to Southland. It then details how all schools can take action.

Taking action is not simply a technical matter, but first involves changing behaviours. For example, an audit conducted during the holidays by students at Northcote College found 289 items left on unnecessarily. This finding led to an important change of focus, which the Northcote case study details.

At Wallacetown Primary, an energy audit led to improved classroom lighting and heating, and a longer swimming season, yet the school's overall energy use dropped. The Wallacetown case study explains how they achieved this happy outcome.

An action plan and templates

The guide first recommends planning as a whole school, followed by an action plan with three different areas of focus:

1. Avoid wasting energy.
2. Use energy more efficiently.
3. Use energy from renewable sources.

Each of these areas is detailed in the guide, starting with simple `housekeeping' measures to counter waste. These measures typically bring immediate savings of at least 10%, carry zero cost, and have a strong educational component for both students and their families. Students and staff can use a simple-fix template in the guide to check their school's energy use and to prioritise change.

Once the immediate savings are gained, a longer-term planning template enables schools to tackle deep-seated issues, from energy-inefficient equipment to sustainability.

While the guide provides tools for schools to use themselves, it's interesting to note that all four schools in the case studies used expertise outside the staff and student body to undertake energy audits. This external expertise was funded in various ways by the different schools.

Grants, loans, and further advice

The guide includes extensive contact details for funding agencies, advisory organisations, and websites.

The websites include education websites, both New Zealand-based and overseas-based. They are particularly useful to schools who are building their energy-efficiency programme into the curriculum. With New Zealand's new energy policy and growing environmental awareness, this process has much to commend it.

Energy efficiency is a key part of the Enviroschools Programme, which supports students and their schools to plan, design, and take action for sustainability. In addition to the Enviroschools' teaching and learning resources, two new initiatives will support schools to develop sustainable energy and environmental building projects. Available later in 2008 are:

• Measuring Sustainable Outcomes: a tool which assists schools to audit, measure, and track their energy saving. It enables regional and national school comparisons.
• Sustainability Directory: an online database of sustainable products and services relevant to school sustainability projects.

The Energy-efficient Schools guide supports schools to get started.