The Energy Saving Trust Foundation partners with the Pod for Switch Off Fortnight
The Energy Saving Trust Foundation is delighted to form a partnership with the Pod to use education and positive community engagement to promote energy efficiency and address the climate emergency.
Under the new partnership, the Energy Saving Trust Foundation will support the Pod’s flagship energy campaign, Switch Off Fortnight, running from 8-21 November 2021. Both expert organisations will provide practical support, resources and information for schools on how young people can reduce their everyday energy use and have a positive impact on addressing the climate emergency.
Switch Off Fortnight is a hugely popular nationwide campaign delivered by the Pod, one of the largest schools’ programmes of its kind. Since it began in 2008, the campaign has helped schools save 10% on average on their energy bills. 85% of primary school children who have participated previously in the campaign said they did things at home to save energy after taking part in activities, while 88% of secondary students said the Pod helped them understand how to use energy responsibly.
Running from 8-21 November 2021, Switch Off Fortnight overlaps with COP26, allowing schools to be part of the conversations around the climate crisis and feel like they can make changes in their own lives that can help to protect the planet.
Schools should seize the chance to participate
Switch Off Fortnight makes it easy for schools to adopt a school-wide approach to saving energy and take action to turn the tide on climate change. By taking part, schools can help the UK reach its goal of creating a net zero society.
Through participation, schools can:
Measure the impact of ‘switching off’ on school energy use.
Contribute to helping the UK reach its net zero targets.
Choose to use school technology, appliances and resources efficiently.
Reduce school energy consumption and bills.
Enable young people to consider how their actions have a bigger impact on the planet.
Inspire pupils and staff to make positive changes to their behaviour both at school and home.
Taking part in Switch Off Fortnight
To take part, schools need to join the Pod first. It takes just a few minutes to sign up, following the steps below:
Choose what type of registration you need (teacher or other, for example, parent or school governor). If you’re a teacher, governor, or school associate, you’ll be asked to put in your school postcode then to select your school from the dropdown list, add your contact details and submit. If you’re a parent or home educator, you can input your details manually.
To activate your registration, you’ll be sent an email to verify your details. Once you’ve clicked on this, you can log in to the Pod and navigate to the Switch Off Fortnight pages, where you’ll be able to sign up for the campaign and access the Pod’s energy saving resources (these can also be found in the Teachers section).
We also have a limited number of campaign packs – containing posters and stickers – for schools that sign up to Switch Off Fortnight. These can be used to decorate the school and support you in running your campaign, so don’t delay in signing up! We only have a limited number of packs and these are distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Simple energy saving tips for schools and children
Turn lights off when not in use – Switching a light off for just a few seconds will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again, regardless of the type of light. In big buildings like schools, this simple switch can make a big difference.
Use energy efficient lights – Switching to LED spotlights that are bright enough to replace halogens is another way to reduce carbon emissions through a light source. They also improve the quality of light and last far longer than older types, providing a cost saving opportunity.
Turn off appliances – PCs and monitors use a lot of energy when switched on but not in use. To avoid this, computers can be set to “hibernate mode” after 10 minutes of non-use. It’s also important to make sure that monitors are at least switched off between classes and when the school day ends, particularly before the weekend. Choosing a laptop over a desktop and reducing standby could save up to 25kg CO2e.
Encourage active travel – Walking or cycling to and from school will cut congestion, carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants that endanger public health and ecosystems. Active travel to and from school offers a great way for school students to reduce emissions as part of their daily routine.
Let’s see how much we can save – encourage other schools in your community to take part!
