The Watts Off Energy Challenge is back!

The Watts Off Energy Challenge is back! This exciting program was developed by Green Schools and Efficiency NS to challenge Grade six classes all across Nova Scotia to be the top classroom that demonstrates energy- saving behaviours in a fun and creative way.

“We got hats donated for our Energy Crew to wear during presentations and school wide investigations” – West Pictou Teacher, Gena Henderson.

The classes participating in the Challenge this year are:
École du Carrefour – Les Zéro Watts
Harbour View Elementary – Harbour View Electric Bees
Chester Area Middle School – Green Cougars
Sherwood Park Education Centre – Light Savers
West Pictou Consolidated School – Tech Bots

The Energy Challenge started on February 3rd and will continue to run for the next 6 weeks. Each week the challenge will begin with a video discussing the weekly topic and students will spend the rest of the week conducting various activities or school wide campaigns, working on at home initiatives, and sharing their results through social media. This year we’ve had the amazing opportunity to partner with Edge Energy . Edge has helped us install energy metering to all five participating schools. These energy meters give information to an online dashboard that students can access in their classrooms, that way they are able to monitor their energy saving behaviours in real time!

The theme this week was “Get Energized”. Students had to complete the Energy Navigators activity by investigating where they use energy, and find ways to reduce that energy consumption! They are able to earn extra points by following up with the Energy Investigation Checklist, Energy Savings Action plan, and the Energy Zones Map.

To continue to see what our 5 schools are up check out the the tag #WattsOff2020 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!
If you’re interested in trying some of these activities with your own classroom you can check out our Green Schools Resource page (https://www.greenschoolsns.ca/feeling-resourceful) and ask your engagement officer to help you get started!

~ Genaya Fraser
Cape Breton Engagement Officer