© INA.KINDER.GARTEN 2023
October 19, 2023
We have been showing that energy-saving projects work well for over 30 years. Energy is saved in two ways. Firstly, by optimizing the behavior of the building users and secondly, through technical optimizations together with the janitor. Bringing children into contact with these topics at an early age is important in order to lay the foundation for climate-conscious behavior as adults. In daycare centers, energy is introduced to older children in a playful way by alternating between movement and knowledge transfer. The topic is broken down in such a way that it becomes tangible for our youngest children:
- The four “children of the sun” “Lisa Licht”, “Steffi Strom”, “Wilma Wärme” and “Bärbel Bewegung” introduce themselves
- The children make energy consumers in their facility visible by marking them with colored sticky dots
- Electricity meters are tested
- The hands are rubbed, thereby generating energy themselves
- Energy-saving slogans are considered and practiced
These are just some of the educational methods that the INA children can expect. In addition, there are energy tours to record the current situation of the building, team workshops for the entire team of educators as well as technical training and exchange sessions for janitors.
Through the INA.Kinder.Gärten energy-saving project, all facilities are made more aware of the issue of saving energy in everyday life and pull together. External support from outside also helps the daycare centers to make progress on a facility-specific basis and provides educators with suggestions for further work with the children. It also relieves the burden on the provider. This usually saves between 4 and 15 percent of energy. The first meetings in the facilities have already taken place. At the official kick-off event for the project on Thursday, October 19, the UfU energy consultants introduced themselves to the daycare centers. In addition, the individual project components and the project schedule were explained in more detail and the daycare centers were able to try out the first experiments, such as the “balloon rocket”, the “solar stove” and the “dragon eyes”. Finally, wishes, expectations and fears were addressed to UfU.
