Action Projects

Energy: School Energy Audits

Audit your school for energy efficiency! You have a few School Audit options to choose from, other programs may be accepted: Lighting in the Library (developed in conjunction with the US DOE and EPA's Energy Star Program) in which you survey the lighting in your school library; School Building Survey (developed by The NEED Project), in which you survey your school for energy use; School Energy Consumption Survey (developed by The NEED Project), in which you investigate the management of energy consumed in your school. Click on the links below for background information and for directions and required forms for each of these surveys.

Lighting in the Library

The purpose of this activity is to calculate the energy used to provide lighting in the school library and then determine the feasibility of replacing older, less efficient lighting with new fixtures that are more efficient and cost less to operate.

"Lighting in the Library" is part of the "Get Smart About Energy" CD ROM. It was produced by the US DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program for the Schools. Call 1-800 DOE 3732 to inquire about availability of CD ROMs.

Correlation to CA State Content Standards:
Science: Grades 9-12: Physics #3, Biology #6, Earth Science #4, #9
Social Studies: Grades 10-12: #10.13.4, #12.14.5

Background, Directions, Student Worksheets

Resource Materials:
H.S. Energy Inventory: Lighting Technology Primer
All About Energy
Glossary of Terms

School Building Survey

Print copies of this and other energy information are available from the NEED Project, www.need.org or 800-875-5029.

Teacher Information:
National Science Standards (PDF)
School Building Survey / Teacher (PDF)

Student Information:
School Building Survey

General Background Information:
Recommended Light Levels (PDF)
The Facts of Light (PDF)
Energy Definitions & Conversions (PDF)

School Energy Consumption Survey

Print copies of this and other energy information are available from the NEED Project, www.need.org or 800-875-5029.

Teacher Information:
National Science Standards (PDF)
School Energy Consumption Survey / Teacher (PDF)
Energy Management Plan / Teacher (PDF)

Student Information:
School Energy Consumption Survey (PDF)
Recording Forms (PDF)
Energy Management Plan (PDF)

General Background Information:
Recommended Light Levels (PDF)
The Facts of Light (PDF)
Energy Definitions & Conversions (PDF)
The following materials are specific tools that may be used as part of your survey and may be available from the science department. If you are unable to locate them, you may still conduct your survey—be resourceful! If necessary, eliminate the specific measurements that use these:

• The Hygrometer (PDF)
• The Light Meter (PDF)
• Flicker Checker (PDF)