Introduction

In this challenge, students become Energy Detectives to spot waste, promote smart habits, and celebrate saving energy together! The goal is to build awareness of energy use and encourage development of lasting energy-saving habits.

Suggested Timeline

Learning Objectives

By the end of the challenge, students will be able to

• Identify common sources of electricity waste in classrooms and school spaces and how everyday actions affect energy use.
• Promote energy-saving strategies to reduce unnecessary electricity use.
• Collaborate with peers by serving as Energy Detectives and encouraging smart energy habits.
• Reflect and share results, including top tips to continue building energy-saving habits.

Materials

• Student Handout
• Introduction to Efficiency video
• Science of Energy Efficiency video
• Markers, poster paper, etc., for making creative and attractive promotion posters and/or digital tools for making slide presentations.
• Optional: Simple awards for top-performing classrooms

Teacher Pre-Planning List

Before starting Class 1: 

• Decide on the scope of the challenge: Student teams will be assigned a classroom to promote the Power Down Challenge and monitor energy use for one or two weeks. The number of students and the size of teams will determine how many classrooms can be reached. 
• Identify teachers willing to participate and secure their approval for:
  • Student team to promote the Power Down Challenge in their classroom.
  • Student team to monitor progress during the Power Down Challenge and share results.

Phase 1: Kickoff and Planning (1-3 Classes)

1. Kickoff Video
   • Show the Introduction to Efficiency and Science of Energy Efficiency videos.
   • Ask, “Where do you see energy being wasted in classrooms or school spaces?”
     
2. Create a Class Checklist
   • Ask, “If you were monitoring energy waste in a classroom, what would you look for?”  
   • Gather student suggestions and make a list. Examples include
     • Lights or lamps left on in empty rooms.
     • Computers/projectors left on when not in use.
     • Chargers plugged in with nothing attached.
     • Windows/doors open while HVAC is on.
     • Appliances (e.g., fans, displays) left on when not needed.
     • Thermostat at max power when the room is empty.
   • Finalize a checklist that students will use consistently throughout the challenge.
     
3. Assign Detective Teams
   • Each student team will get one classroom where they are responsible for promoting the Power Down Challenge. Team members can take turns monitoring the classroom and gathering evidence during the challenge week(s). 
   • Decide on a schedule, including promotion, monitoring, and results dates. Monitoring frequency (once to four times daily) will depend on team size.
     
4. Creating Promotional Materials
   • Each student or student pair creates at least one promotional item (poster and/or slides) to introduce the challenge and encourage participation.

Phase 2: Action and Monitoring (1-2 Weeks)

1. Promotion Day
   • Each detective team will have a designated time to visit their assigned classroom with their promotional materials and give a short presentation to introduce the Power Down Challenge. This presentation should be arranged in advance with the classroom teacher. 
     
2. Presentation Guidelines: 
   • Teams introduce the challenge, explain the checklist and scoring system (+1 for energy-saving actions, –1 for energy-wasting actions), and encourage participation through friendly competition.
     
3. The Power Down Challenge
   • For the duration of the challenge, each team will conduct a 5-10 minute check of their assigned classroom (depending on the size of the teams, this could happen 1-4 times per day),
   • Use the checklist to assign +1 for energy-saving actions and –1 for energy-wasting actions.
   • Friendly competition: Points can be tracked on a classroom chart or whiteboard. 

Phase 3: Results and Celebration (1-2 Classes)

1. Detective Debrief
   • Give each team time to gather the following information and share it with the class:
     • Top 2 Issues: The most common sources of energy waste observed.
     • Top 2 Tips: How to close those gaps and encourage better energy-saving habits.
   • Gather student data and create a classroom ranking (scores from all observed classrooms). 
     
2. Recognition and Awards
   • Give teams time to create one slide to present to their assigned classroom, providing them with the results (ranking of classrooms from most points to least points), as well as their top issues and top tips.
   • Send each team to their assigned classroom to inform them of their ranking and possibly give certificates and/or rewards to the top classes.
     
3. Consider a Class Party!
   • Consider giving your students a Power Down Challenge class party to celebrate all the hard work they put into planning, promoting, and conducting the challenge! 

Sample Power Down Challenge Checklist Template

Note: The “Action/Clue” column should be prefilled with the checklist items discussed and finalized in Class 1. Examples are included. 

Detective Team: 
Assigned Class: 
Observation Date:
Observation Time: 

Assessment Rubric