The back-to-school season brings high energy from new schedules, fresh supplies, and the excitement of a new year. It’s also the perfect time for students to start learning about another kind of energy: the kind we use (and sometimes waste) every day in our classrooms.
Schools use a lot of energy to power everything from lighting to HVAC systems, and more. And teachers have a unique opportunity to turn everyday classroom habits into lessons that lower costs and build lifelong sustainability skills in your students.
Here are five practical “energy lessons” you can introduce in your classroom right away:
Lesson 1: Lights Out When You Leave
One of the most effective habits to instill in students is to turn off the lights when leaving a room. Having the lights on when the classroom is empty or when the school day is over wastes a lot of energy that can be easily avoided by the simple habit of turning off the lights. This is also a great habit that translates well to the home, too.
Tip: Assign a daily “light monitor” who makes sure lights are switched off whenever the class leaves the room.
Lesson 2: Fans Cool People, Not Rooms
Fans cool people, not rooms. A fan left running in an empty room wastes energy with no benefit. Teaching students this encourages them to be more conscious of their environment and reinforces the idea that energy is for people, not empty spaces.
Tip: Post a reminder near classroom fans: “Turn me off when you leave!” Rotate student responsibility for checking fans at dismissal.
Lesson 3: Power Down and Unplug
Even when laptops, tablets, and smartboards are “off,” they quietly pull power if left plugged in. And this “phantom energy” can really add up across a school. Showing students how to fully power down and unplug is a great hands-on way to cut waste.
Tip: Create a “tech check” list for students to follow at the end of the day that includes items like power off laptops, unplugging tablets, and switching off projectors or smartboards.
Lesson 4: Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Fall breezes may feel refreshing, but when the HVAC is running, open doors and windows are an energy drain. Open windows also let the cool air from your HVAC out, forcing the system to work harder to keep classrooms comfortable.
Tip: Appoint a “door and window checker” to make sure everything is closed when the school’s air conditioner is running.
Lesson 5: Save Water Too
Every drop of water comes with an energy cost from pumping, heating, and treating it; it all takes power. Remind students to turn off taps promptly when washing hands or filling water bottles. It’s an easy way to protect two resources at once.
Tip: Add signs near sinks with simple reminders like “One turn is enough” or “Don’t let it run!” Reinforce this whenever students fill bottles or wash their hands.
The Bigger Lesson
As you map out your lesson plans this fall, consider energy-saving habits part of the curriculum. When you build these habits into daily routines, you aren’t just cutting costs, you’re teaching students that small choices add up. Turning off a light, closing a window, or unplugging a charger may feel like minor actions, but together they make a big difference. Best of all, when students take these lessons home, they multiply the impact across families and communities.
