2021 School Earth Hour
Challenge Submission Showcase

As a certified Platinum Canadian EcoSchool, conserving energy is a normal everyday occurrence for the students and staff of Chris Hadfield P.S. Earth Day re-news that practice and for an entire day, students focused on turning off any unnecessary lights, unplugging unused devices, and spreading the energy-saving message within their community. They even contacted their school board and addressed a new safety protocol that was wasting energy. Working with their Sustainability Coordinator, they were able to reduce
their energy use by over 140 kWh, or 24%, compared to their average Friday energy use. They calculated that their energy savings are equivalent to 31kg of greenhouse gases, the yearly sequestration potential of almost 2 trees, over 12,000 Smartphones charged, or 4 bags of trash! 

Amazed at how much their school was paying after reviewing their monthly electricity bill, students discovered that most energy is wasted by turning on classroom lights before students and teachers arrive. The students used their school's energy metering technology to calculate the energy used by overhead fluorescent lights compared to LED lamps in classrooms. They also conducted occupant surveys, which indicated that students prefer learning with natural light. Every student in the school participated in at least one Earth Hour event, such as one hour no power, take me outside day or watching an environmental documentary. Students shared their learning through daily announcements, on social media, and by drawing the Sustainable Development Goals in chalk leading into the school. After learning about the mass of CO2 emitted per kWh students have become the champions of this knowledge, encouraging and reminding their peers and educators to make environmentally friendly choices, such as turning off the lights when possible and composting.