Giving Thanks for Safe, Reliable Energy
“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, …to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving…”
President Abraham Lincoln, October 1863
It’s early November, and here in the Northeast the weather has finally turned cooler after an unusually warm fall. When I came home Sunday evening after running errands, I was greeted by chilly air inside as I unlocked the front door of my 120-year-old house. I headed straight to the thermostat and saw the temperature had dipped to 61°F. I had to admit it—the time had come to turn on the furnace.
For those of us living in cooler climates who are energy-conscious (and maybe a little cheap!), this moment brings an annual sense of surrender and defeat.
Whether you’re managing heating bills like me or keeping your home cool during 80°F November days (looking at you, Austin friends), many of us take for granted that our energy needs will be met. We flip a switch and the lights turn on. We fill our gas tanks for the week ahead—or a weekend road trip. We stream our favorite shows, confident our devices will power us through a relaxing evening. We grab a cold drink from the fridge or warm up with a cup of hot cocoa without a second thought.
For those of us in the developed world, the convenience of energy is a luxury we often forget to notice.
Helping Students Reflect on Energy Use
The Energy Makes Our World video in the Switch Classroom Introduction to Energy Lesson challenges students to identify the many ways they rely on energy each day.
Each year, when students watch the video What Powers the World, they’re most surprised to learn that nearly 20% of all electricity produced is used for lighting.
The lesson includes a reflective writing activity that asks students to examine their own energy use and conservation habits, and it poses a question that always sparks lively discussion:
“Does individual behavior matter?”
I’ve found this lesson to be a powerful entry point into the topic of energy in my AP Environmental Science, IB Environmental Systems, and physics classes.
Introducing Energy Poverty
As students reflect on how and where they use the most energy, they’re often stunned to learn that nearly one-third of the world lacks access to reliable energy.
Just as eye-opening as the statistic about lighting is the realization that nearly 3 billion people lack dependable energy access. Even more powerful is understanding how this affects nearly every aspect of life, from economic opportunity to education to health care.
Lessons to Explore Energy Availability and Energy Poverty
The following lessons can help students examine global energy access and equity:
- Introduction to Energy: Explores how fundamental energy is to modern life.
- The Energy Mix: Examines how energy sources differ worldwide based on available resources.
- What Powers the World: Investigates how electricity enables modern life and everyday activities.
- Introduction to Energy Poverty: Introduces the concept of energy poverty and its global implications.
A Moment of Gratitude
The past twenty months have brought many challenges, but there is still much to be thankful for. As we move through November—appreciating the changing seasons and looking forward to a few days off to recharge—I invite you to pause and give thanks.
Be thankful for family, friends, and good health. And also take a moment to be grateful for the energy that quietly supports our daily lives.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Lynn Kistler
Chair, Switch Energy Alliance Teacher Advisor Council
Upper St. Clair High School, Pittsburgh, PA
Science Teacher: Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry
Originally posted in 2020