With creativity and vigor: Potsdam schools continue to save energy

In the past school year 2022/2023, the 40 Potsdam schools participating in the Energy Efficiency Program (EEP) of the Municipal Real Estate Service (KIS) once again demonstrated the importance of saving energy and integrating climate-friendly action into everyday school life through numerous creative projects and continuous climate-friendly behaviour. This joint commitment of pupils, teachers, janitors and school management will be honored on 26 September 2023 at the annual annual event with recognition awards totaling 60,000 euros. The most successful schools according to a points system were also presented. Lord Mayor Mike Schubert at the event: “It is impressive how pupils from Potsdam schools have once again contributed to climate protection and energy saving with many campaigns in the 2022/23 school year. And it is therefore a great pleasure for me to once again honor the many students and their teachers for their commitment and to present the awards today.” Kommunale Immobilien Service (KIS) has been implementing the project on behalf of the Department of Education and Sport of the state capital Potsdam since 1998. It is implemented by the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) and the Berlin Energy Agency (BEA). In recent years, numerous activities focusing on correct heating and ventilation, conscious and economical use of electricity and water, resource-saving behavior and waste avoidance have been supported and recognized in up to 40 schools in the city. In the 2022/2023 school year, the theme of the annual tours and workshops was “Electricity and (renewable) energies”. Saving energy and electricity has naturally been one of the most discussed topics in Germany over the past year and a half. As a result, pupils have integrated these topics into everyday school life through a variety of activities and provided in-depth knowledge during the UfU and BEA visits. Climate protection and the energy transition have long been part of young people’s everyday lives and are discussed, creatively implemented and lived. For example, an internal school environmental day focused on the topic of renewable energies, which included building miniature models of wind turbines. School podcasts dealt with the question of “Saving electricity, but how” and helpful tips were developed. The EEP theme for the year was also embedded in everyday school life. Light switch services were introduced, checklists for energy-saving actions in everyday life were created and attention was also paid to energy-saving cooking in the school kitchens. The schools also dealt with other climate protection topics and continued their campaigns from previous years. For example, with the possibilities of saving water. To this end, water diaries were kept and measures were taken to save water in the school’s sanitary facilities. The issue of climate-friendly mobility was discussed in relation to renewable energies and, as part of this, project weeks and competitions were organized among pupils and staff. Class trips were increasingly planned using public transport or even by bike or on foot.

Results First place went to the Schulzentrum am Stern with 562 points, receiving 6,070.14 euros. Second place went to Oberschule Theodor Fontane with 541 points and a prize of 5,840.72 euros. In third place was the Karl Foerster School with 401 points, which was awarded 4,328.76 euros. The remaining funds are distributed among the other schools that took part in the 2022/23 school year. Points are awarded based on the activities of the individual school. However, the score also takes into account the schools’ respective energy consumption. Heat protection as a new annual topic In the current school year, schools are focusing on the topic of heat protection for the first time as an annual EEP project. The focus will be on user-oriented measures in the areas of “individual heat protection”, “heat protection indoors” and ideas for “heat protection on the grounds”. The aim is for users of school buildings to discover and try out ways in which they can better protect themselves from heat in everyday life. Our colleagues from Medical Civil Protection will provide us with technical support. All further information on the project can be found online at https://www.energieeinsparprojekt-potsdam.de/