Our recent module looks at how energy consumption behaviours and habits can be changed towards the energy efficient use of school buildings. One of the challenges the module addresses is raising awareness among youth of their energy consumption behaviours and habits. The module highlights the need to raise awareness and identify the most effective interventions for school staff, teachers, and students that support both the development of energy saving behaviours and habits as well as the consolidation of these behaviours and habits.

Though energy efficiency knowledge of students is the most essential starting point in improving awareness, it is not enough to initiate lasting change in energy saving behaviours and habits. Schools must work to strengthen the capacity of students to apply energy efficiency knowledge, skills, and attitudes that lead to change in energy saving behaviours and habits. So, a high level of energy efficiency literacy enables students to analyse, reason, or communicate effectively as they pose, solve, and interpret their energy saving and/or usage behaviours in a variety of situations. Thus, this would reflect efforts in creating more sustainable energy saving and usage habits.

Hence, an energy literate student should: have the basic understanding of the science and how energy is used and saved in everyday life; understand the impact that energy production and consumption have on different spheres of environment and society; be sensitive to the need for energy conservation and the dire need to develop alternatives to fossil fuel-based energy resources; be cognisant of the impact of personal energy-related decisions and actions on a community; and strive to make the choices and decisions that reflect such attitudes with respect to energy consumption. Go to the module